Some in Paris concealing failing schemes (7)
I believe the answer is:
devices
'schemes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'some in paris concealing failing' is the wordplay.
'some in paris' becomes 'des' ('some' in French).
'concealing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'failing' becomes 'vice' (vice can mean a moral failing).
'des' enclosing 'vice' is 'DEVICES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for devices that I've seen before include "Gadgets" , "schemes?" , "Contrivances" .)