Mediocre journalist getting the chop? (4)
I believe the answer is:
hack
This clue is a double definition.
'mediocre journalist' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'the chop?' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'getting' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for hack that I've seen before include "Ride" , "Chop - reporter" , "Journalistic drudge (for the chop?)" , "try to access unauthorised data" , "Drudge, inferior writer" .)