Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute presents the case for self-promotion, long anathema to many working journalists, but now a necessity in the era of declining big media brands. "Like everything else in the world of digital media, the old boundary between the writer and the promoter has been erased," Clark writes. "There is no chance that my bosses will pay to put my picture and name on a billboard or the side of a bus. It’s up to me."

A federal judge in New York has set aside the latest version of Google's class action settlement with the Authors Guild over the search giant's scanning and archiving of some 12 million books, many still under copyright. For discussion of what happens now, see this analysis on the Scholarly Kitchen blog, with a list of links to other coverage of the ruling, and a longer review on The Laboratorium.

Think back to the last time you went to a party where you didn't know many people. Did you have a good time? Make some new connections? If so, then you probably didn't just stand in one spot and expect people to approach you for conversation — you mingled. Dave Taylor and Amy Gahran explain how online mingling — through commenting — can enhance your freelance career.

Liability is a major concern for many freelance writers, especially as contracts with onerous indemnity clauses seem to be growing like fungus after a warm rain. While for most science writers, the chances of getting sued are small, it can happen. In this three-part series, NASW Freelance Committee member Kendall Powell looks at steps you can take to limit your liability. Part I: Knowing your risks, and avoiding them.