Kicks poor journalists (5)
I believe the answer is:
hacks
'journalists' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hacks that I've seen before include "Coughs" , "handles" , "Shack up with plain reporters" , "Cuts inelegantly" , "Literary drudges" .)