There are a great series of posts about creating new A-lists at Businessweek's Blogspotting column.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the various blog search engines creating their own A-lists. While Jeff Jarvis would like to see a death to lists completely (not a bad idea at all), the human impulse to list and cantegorize--to find the animals that are a bit more equal than others--might be better served by creating so many lists that everyone can claim a position as an A-lister.

Although the desire to be A-listed might have something to do with networking and professional profile moreso than it does with just communicating with others and to determining who's the best communicator. Networking is important. To deny that it isn't is a bit old-fashioned.