Principal journalist returns article (4)
I believe the answer is:
dean
'principal' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'journalist returns article' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'returns' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'ed' written backwards gives 'de'.
'de'+'an'='DEAN'
(Other definitions for dean that I've seen before include "Church or college dignitary" , "Head of e.g. faculty" , "James ..., film actor" , "Senior academic administrator" , "school head" .)