Reporter attending start of week-long strike (5)

I believe the answer is:

whack

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'long strike' is the definition.
'whack' can be an answer for 'strike' (thesaurus). I am not certain of the 'long' bit.

'reporter attending start of week' is the wordplay.
'reporter' becomes 'hack' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'attending' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'start of' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'week' is 'w'.
'hack' after 'w' is 'WHACK'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for whack that I've seen before include "Onomatopoeic blow" , "Punch" , "Strike; specified share" , "Resounding blow" , "Strike; share (slang)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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