Send report on onset of conflict possibly, being this? (13)
I believe the answer is:
correspondent
'this?' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'send report on onset of conflict possibly' is the wordplay.
'onset of' indicates taking the first letters.
'possibly' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'conflict' is 'c'.
'send'+'report'+'on'+'c'='sendreportonc'
'sendreportonc' is an anagram of 'CORRESPONDENT'.
'being' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for correspondent that I've seen before include "Reporter on special subject or from overseas" , "Newspaper writer" , "Reporter on specialist areas" , "Journalist; pen pal" , "Pen-friend" .)