Puzzled when record on agent is recalled by old journalist (9)
I believe the answer is:
perplexed
'puzzled' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'agent is recalled by old journalist' is the wordplay.
'agent' becomes 'rep' (short for representative).
'is recalled' says the letters should be written backwards.
'by' becomes 'pl' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'old' becomes 'ex'.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'rep' written backwards gives 'per'.
'per'+'pl'+'ex'+'ed'='PERPLEXED'
'when record on' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
(Other definitions for perplexed that I've seen before include "Bewildered" , "Baffled" , "Discombobulated" , "Puzzled" .)