Central idea in article by this compiler (5)
I believe the answer is:
theme
'central idea' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'article by this compiler' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article in English).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'this compiler' becomes 'me' (the person who is writing these clues).
'the'+'me'='THEME'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for theme that I've seen before include "Short melody" , "Topic for discussion" , "idea of the work" , "Subject of a talk or piece of writing" , "Subject (on which person writes, speaks)" .)