Requirement identified by Northumbrian press chief (4)
I believe the answer is:
need
'requirement' is the definition.
(I know that need is a type of requirement)
'northumbrian press chief' is the wordplay.
'northumbrian' becomes 'NE' (Northumbria is in the North East of England).
'press chief' becomes 'ed' (editor).
'ne'+'ed'='NEED'
'identified by' is the link.
(Other definitions for need that I've seen before include "What's lacking" , "privation" , "'miss'" , "Require (as essential)" , "Want - require(ment)" .)