Mediagazer: Chinese state media deletes articles quoting a Swiss biologist critical of the US over COVID-19 origin investigations, after Switzerland says he does not exist (Helen Davidson/The Guardian)

Max Willens / Digiday:

Medium says its Partner Program has 200,000+ enrollees as it launches a referral program that will give participants a ~50% cut of new subscriber revenue — As the creator services arms race intensifies across digital media, Medium is hoping to stand out by sharing more of its spoils with a smaller …

Discussion: @maxwillens, @realbengilbert, @ahmetasabanci, @rebeccatee, @mattnavarra, @caleweissman and @mclendaniel

Alex Heath / The Verge:

Facebook says it is undertaking a “very meaningful pivot”, still in its infancy, to change how its ad tools work with a focus on privacy — A ‘very meaningful pivot’ is underway inside the world's largest social network — Facebook's massive business was built on its ability to track users across the internet.

Discussion: About Facebook and @alexeheath, more at Techmeme »

Rick Edmonds / Poynter:

Stewart Bainum, who tried to buy The Baltimore Sun from Alden, has posted job listings for a startup news outlet in Baltimore; source: plans are preliminary — Bainum's bid to buy The Baltimore Sun from Alden Global Capital fell through in the spring. Now he envisions taking on the Sun with a new nonprofit.

Discussion: Talking Biz News, @alanmillernlp, @davetroy, @sifill_ldf, @davetroy, @rickedmonds, @jaisalnoor, @carolsott, @ron_cassie, @kerrymflynn and @itsren

Sara Guaglione / Digiday:

Quartz says it has 27,000 members, up 71% YoY, and is set to generate $3M+ in subscription revenue in 2021, as it refocuses subscription program on newsletters — Quartz is making changes to its three-year-old subscription program, with a new focus on its email newsletters after the publisher found …

Discussion: @zseward

The Atlantic:

Filing: The Atlantic added 280,000 subscribers in the last 12 months, for a total of 833,410, with the average value of a subscription growing 45% since H1 2019 — The Atlantic's paid readership jumped by more than 280,000 in the last 12 months, according to the latest circulation statement filed …

Discussion: @elipariser, @markstenberg3 and @jeffreygoldberg

Clara Hernanz Lizarraga / Bloomberg:

Lionel Messi's exclusive interview with a Twitch influencer following his move to Paris shows how sports programming is shifting steadily to streaming platforms — - Interview after star's Paris move is a coup for the Amazon app — Clubs working with influencers to tap new generation of fans

Discussion: @mattnavarra

Jessica Toonkel / The Information:

Sources: WarnerMedia is in talks to sell TMZ to Fox — AT&T's WarnerMedia is in talks to sell its TMZ tabloid entertainment company to Fox, according to people familiar with the situation. The talks are the latest move by WarnerMedia to slim down its collection of businesses.

Discussion: MediaPost, New York Post, deadline.com, @joshua_sisco, @webbarr, @jpooch21, @matthewkeyslive, @johncecilprice, @ktran223, @joefav, @richlightshed, The Wrap and Insider

Helen Davidson / The Guardian:

Chinese state media deletes articles quoting a Swiss biologist critical of the US over COVID-19 origin investigations, after Switzerland says he does not exist — State media quietly erases articles on biologist Wilson Edwards after Switzerland says he does not exist

Discussion: Breitbart, @censelio, Al Jazeera, @archermail and @heldavidson

Jem Aswad / Variety:

Vivendi sells 7.1% of Universal Music Group to Bill Ackman's Pershing Square for $2.8B, after plans to sell to Ackman's SPAC failed to materialize — France-based Vivendi, parent of Universal Music Group, has sold 7.1% of that company's share capital to Pershing Square Holdings …

Discussion: Vivendi, Complete Music Update, musically.com, Digital Music News, Reuters and Music Business Worldwide

Matthew Keys / The Desk:

Disney to pay Lionsgate nearly $10M to launch Star Plus in Brazil after local judge said the name sounded too similar to Lionsgate's streaming service StarzPlay — The Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to Lionsgate for the right to use the “Star Plus” branding for a streaming service set to launch in Brazil.

Financial Times:

FT reopens its LA bureau after nearly a decade, as part of US expansion plans, and will now have six bureaus in the US, the most of any country in its network — The Financial Times is reopening its Los Angeles bureau after nearly a decade and has appointed veteran correspondent Christopher Grimes …

Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:

Sports publishers like Overtime and Team Whistle are positioning themselves as content partners for college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals — Overtime is finally able to fill an age gap in the pool of talent it's able to pay to feature in its video series and digital content — college athletes.