Neglected newspaper needs good editor (6)
I believe the answer is:
ragged
'neglected' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'newspaper needs good editor' is the wordplay.
'newspaper' becomes 'rag' (rag is a kind of newspaper**).
'needs' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'editor' becomes 'ed'.
'rag'+'g'+'ed'='RAGGED'
(Other definitions for ragged that I've seen before include "down at heel" , "Teased; untidy; badly dressed" , "Made fun of; tattered" , "taunted" , "Scruffy" .)