News cut by half editor repeatedly called for (6)
I believe the answer is:
needed
'called for' is the definition.
('need' can be a synonym of 'call for')
'news cut by half editor repeatedly' is the wordplay.
'cut by half' suggests halving the letters.
'editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'repeatedly' shows that letters should be duplicated.
'news' with half the letters taken is 'ne'.
'ed' duplicated is 'eded'.
'ne'+'eded'='NEEDED'
(Other definitions for needed that I've seen before include "Obligatory" , "Required, necessary" , "Essential; called for" , "Required something essential" , "'Lacked, required (6)'" .)