Made crate designed by journalist (7)
I believe the answer is:
created
'made' is the definition.
('create' can be a synonym of 'make')
'crate designed by journalist' is the wordplay.
'designed' indicates anagramming the letters (designed with the letters).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'crate' with letters rearranged gives 'creat'.
'creat'+'ed'='CREATED'
(Other definitions for created that I've seen before include "Devised" , "Made, generated" , "Made a fuss" , "Brought into existence" , "Originated" .)