Reporters gripped by depression (5)
I believe the answer is:
press
'reporters' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'gripped by depression' is the wordplay.
'gripped by' indicates a hidden word.
'PRESS' is hidden in the letters of 'depression'.
(Other definitions for press that I've seen before include "flock" , "Impel" , "rags together" , "Newspapers - cupboard" , "Newspapers - bring weight to bear" .)