Principal journalist returns article (4)
I believe the answer is:
dean
'principal' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'journalist returns article' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'returns' says the letters should be written backwards.
'article' becomes 'an' (English indefinite article).
'ed' reversed gives 'de'.
'de'+'an'='DEAN'
(Other definitions for dean that I've seen before include "Church or college dignitary" , "Head of e.g. faculty" , "James ..., film actor" , "Senior academic administrator" , "school head" .)