Sophisticated judge in journalist (7)
I believe the answer is:
refined
'sophisticated' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'judge in journalist' is the wordplay.
'judge' becomes 'ref' (referee).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'ref'+'in'+'ed'='REFINED'
(Other definitions for refined that I've seen before include "Purified, oil say" , "Urbane" , "Not coarse" , "Free from vulgarity" , "Freed from impurities by processing" .)