A major media site would most likely want you to contribute if you have high authorship on a certain niche.  Why?  By leveraging your authorhsip that will help them look favorable in the eyes of Google. It increases their authorhship as well as yours.  Win-win for both both parties.   This could also help in obtaining freelancing gigs. Higher authorship = higher freelancing rates. 

If you haven't jumped on the Google authorship bandwagon yet, do it.  

I'm thinking of adding this to a site as well, thanks for the info so far.

But whether you like where Google is heading or not, why not play the game? There's lots of things Google has been doing that I don't like, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go without 80% of my traffic just to spite them ;)

Google has already laid out a few hints that verified authors have posts that G is more likely to trust, and that there could be an AuthorRank that could end up being the next PageRank.

If that's the case, I think they are playing a dangerous game. I'm already not a fan of the idea that Google will adjust it's search results based on shares by my connections. I think we stand too much a chance of creating isolated communities of thought that way.

I look at it this way: my currently best performing post is one where I explain a DIY approach to avoiding moving fees from DirecTV. For the keyword "directv moving" I am ranked 2nd (and #1 is DirecTV themselves). The results that have Google Authorship properly set up are ranked #4 and #9.

Personally, I'm not so sure. I'm sure Google Authorship helps if you are looking to make a connection. But when I'm searching, 9 times out of 10, I'm looking for information. I personally don't care where that information comes from as long as it is accurate and answers my question. And frankly, I'm unlikely to visit that site again after I've found what I wanted.

Other than a bit of flare in your search result that might get people to click, authorship isn't about the person searching. Google has already laid out a few hints that verified authors have posts that G is more likely to trust, and that there could be an AuthorRank that could end up being the next PageRank.

I personally think Google Authorship is going to be a game changer that will affect all bloggers.  I'm going all in and making sure my authorship is recognized on my blog and everywhere that I contribute blog posts.  Definitely take the time to make sure it's setup properly.

Personally, I'm not so sure. I'm sure Google Authorship helps if you are looking to make a connection. But when I'm searching, 9 times out of 10, I'm looking for information. I personally don't care where that information comes from as long as it is accurate and answers my question. And frankly, I'm unlikely to visit that site again after I've found what I wanted.

Jeff Rose said:

I personally think Google Authorship is going to be a game changer that will affect all bloggers.  I'm going all in and making sure my authorship is recognized on my blog and everywhere that I contribute blog posts.  Definitely take the time to make sure it's setup properly.

Hey Jeff, when you contribute to another site, do simply have a link to your G+ in your author bio or do they need to hook it up through their dashboard?

What Glen said.  I've done both ways and both will usually work. 

I personally think Google Authorship is going to be a game changer that will affect all bloggers.  I'm going all in and making sure my authorship is recognized on my blog and everywhere that I contribute blog posts.  Definitely take the time to make sure it's setup properly.

Hey Jeff, when you contribute to another site, do simply have a link to your G+ in your author bio or do they need to hook it up through their dashboard?

John, I may send you a message shortly to see if you can help troubleshoot.

I'm just doing this myself, if you need any help just let me know contact@debtadviceresource.com

Thanks

John