Biographical tales about new vital means of communication? (9)
I believe the answer is:
lifelines
'vital means of communication?' is the definition.
'biographical tales about new' is the wordplay.
'biographical' becomes 'life' (biographical means relating to a person's life).
'tales' becomes 'lies'.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'new' becomes 'n'.
'lies' going around 'n' is 'lines'.
'life'+'lines'='LIFELINES'
(Other definitions for lifelines that I've seen before include "Means to rescue" , "May 23 [COME TO THE RESCUE], these" .)