Dramatist newspaper chief crossed (9)
I believe the answer is:
traversed
'crossed' is the definition.
('traverse' can be a synonym of 'cross')
'dramatist newspaper chief' is the wordplay.
'dramatist' becomes 'travers' (Ben Travers, 1886-1980).
'newspaper chief' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'travers'+'ed'='TRAVERSED'
(Other definitions for traversed that I've seen before include "passed over" , "Travelled across zigzag course" , "Went over" , "Crossed" , "Came across" .)