Phone fault, and what reporter might miss because of it? (8)
I believe the answer is:
deadline
'phone' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for deadline that I've seen before include "Time-limit as for reporter's copy" , "Point in time when something must be completed" , "Time limit as for journalists filing copy" , "Fixed completion date" , "Closing date" .)