Journalist going north affected to run away (6)
I believe the answer is:
decamp
'run away' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'journalist going north affected' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'going north' is a reversal indicator.
'affected' becomes 'camp' (camp can mean exaggerated or affected).
'ed' in reverse letter order is 'de'.
'de'+'camp'='DECAMP'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for decamp that I've seen before include "beat it" , "Leave suddenly" , "Make sudden breakaway" , "Split" , "Fold tents and go" .)