Mother's violent death made a newspaper's name (8)
I believe the answer is:
masthead
'a newspaper's name' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'mother's violent death' is the wordplay.
'mother's' becomes 'ma's' (ma can mean mother).
'violent' indicates anagramming the letters.
'death' anagrammed gives 'thead'.
'mas'+'thead'='MASTHEAD'
'made' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for masthead that I've seen before include "Printed title of newspaper or magazine" , "Newspaper identity" , "Times title here?" , "Top of pole" , "furthest point from sea" .)