Reporters retain right to go back and advance (8)
I believe the answer is:
progress
'advance' is the definition.
(to progress is to advance)
'reporters retain right to go back' is the wordplay.
'reporters' becomes 'press' (members of the press).
'retain' is an insertion indicator.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'to' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'r' put after 'go' is 'gor'.
'gor' backwards is 'rog'.
'press' placed around 'rog' is 'PROGRESS'.
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for progress that I've seen before include "Mature" , "Breakthrough - advance" , "Relating to verse" , "Move forwards" , "Advance - movement" .)