Persecute work by reporters (7)
I believe the answer is:
oppress
'persecute' is the definition.
(I know that persecute can be written as oppress)
'work by reporters' is the wordplay.
'work' becomes 'op' (common abbreviation for 'opus').
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'reporters' becomes 'press' (I've seen this before).
'op'+'press'='OPPRESS'
(Other definitions for oppress that I've seen before include "Subdue" , "Put down" , "Abuse" , "Govern with cruelty and injustice" , "Keep someone down" .)