Hard with journalist on coach to clear a way through the woods (9)
I believe the answer is:
bushwhack
'clear a way through the woods' is the definition.
(as in chopping through the Australian bush)
'hard with journalist on coach' is the wordplay.
'hard with' becomes 'hw' (this might be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'journalist' becomes 'hack' (I've seen this before).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'coach' becomes 'bus' (synonyms).
'hw'+'hack'='hwhack'
'hwhack' put after 'bus' is 'BUSHWHACK'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bushwhack that I've seen before include "coach horse with his carriage" , "Clear wild scrub" , "Live or travel in wild country" , "Work to clear scrub, ambush (US, Aus)" .)