Crossword Genius

Looked to unite aristocrat with journalist (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

peered

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'looked' is the definition.
(peering is a kind of looking)

'aristocrat with journalist' is the wordplay.
'aristocrat' becomes 'peer' (peer is a kind of aristocrat).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'peer'+'ed'='PEERED'

'to unite' is the 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 peered that I've seen before include "Having been made a Lord < examined" , "Looked through narrowed eyes" , "Look searchingly" , "Looked searchingly" , "Looked closely" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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