Article was about first broad area (6)
I believe the answer is:
swathe
'broad area' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'article was about first' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article).
'about' is an anagram indicator.
'first' says to put letters next to each other.
'was' with letters rearranged gives 'swa'.
'the' put after 'swa' is 'SWATHE'.
(Other definitions for swathe that I've seen before include "Broad strip or area; wrap in fabric" , "Row or path, of grass perhaps, when it is mown" , "put bands around" , "Broad strip (land)" , "considerable cut" .)