State News author (4)

I believe the answer is:

mann

'author' is the definition.
(I know that Mann is a author)

'state news' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'ma' (abbreviation for Massachusetts).
'news' becomes 'nn' (an abbreviation for new written twice).
'ma'+'nn'='MANN'

(Other definitions for mann that I've seen before include "Foreign author" , "Thomas -, Twentieth Century German author (Death in Venice)" , "Thomas --, German writer (Death in Venice)" , "Manfred --, 1960s pop band" , "Thomas - - , German novelist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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