Victor and loser set up, journalist decided (8)
I believe the answer is:
resolved
'decided' is the definition.
(resolving is a kind of deciding)
'victor and loser set up journalist' is the wordplay.
'victor' becomes 'V' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'set up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'loser' written backwards gives 'resol'.
'v' put after 'resol' is 'resolv'.
'resolv'+'ed'='RESOLVED'
(Other definitions for resolved that I've seen before include "very firm" , "Firmly determined" , "Settled, decided" , "Determind - mind made up" , "tackled crossword again?" .)