Journalist having something to learn by holding papers back (6)
I believe the answer is:
editor
'journalist' is the definition.
(senior journalist)
'by holding papers back' is the wordplay.
'by' becomes 'rote' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'papers' becomes 'ID' (identification papers).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'rote' going around 'id' is 'rotide'.
'rotide' reversed gives 'EDITOR'.
'having something to learn' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for editor that I've seen before include "Cudlipp, for one" , "One prepares a work for publication" , "Someone in the rag trade" , "Senior journalist" , "Person who determines the final content of a text" .)