We object to journalist being employed (4)
I believe the answer is:
used
'being employed' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'we object to journalist' is the wordplay.
'we object' becomes 'us' (object pronoun for 'we').
'to journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'us'+'ed'='USED'
(Other definitions for used that I've seen before include "cast off" , "Went through" , "Second-hand; consumed" , "was milking" , "Pre-loved" .)