Tied up the journalist by the back-room (6)
I believe the answer is:
moored
'tied up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'journalist by the back-room' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'room' back-to-front is 'moor'.
'ed' after 'moor' is 'MOORED'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for moored that I've seen before include "Of boat, tied up or secured" , "Tied up to berth like ship or boat" , "Berthed, tied up" , "Secured by rope or cable" , "Made fast" .)