Obscure period alluded to in media reports (8)
I believe the answer is:
coverage
'alluded to in media reports' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'obscure period' is the wordplay.
'obscure' becomes 'cover' (obscure can mean to cover or eclipse).
'period' becomes 'age' (age is a kind of period).
'cover'+'age'='COVERAGE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for coverage that I've seen before include "Commentary" , "Treatment (of an issue) by the media" , "insurance" , "publicity" , "Extent reached by advertising" .)