Decreed: set gold before man of the North, reported journalist (8)
I believe the answer is:
ordained
'decreed' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for ordained that I've seen before include "Elevated to the priesthood" , "Like a priest" , "Declared to be law or declared to be a priest" , "Laid down the law" , "Invested with priestly authority" .)