It takes little space in the newspaper (4)
I believe the answer is:
item
'the newspaper' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'it takes little space' is the wordplay.
'takes' says to put letters next to each other.
'little space' becomes 'em' (typographical space as wide as an 'm').
'it'+'em'='ITEM'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for item that I've seen before include "date" , "Syrian capital" , "Two people romantically linked" , "Also no more" , "Separate article" .)