Officer journalist managed (5)
I believe the answer is:
coped
'managed' is the definition.
('cope' can be a synonym of 'manage')
'officer journalist' is the wordplay.
'officer' becomes 'cop' (cop is a kind of officer).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'cop'+'ed'='COPED'
(Other definitions for coped that I've seen before include "as a priest in ceremony?" , "wearing vestment" , "Managed, got by" , "Managed well enough" , "Rose to the occasion" .)