I started participating as a writer in the Partner Program a few months ago. Honestly, I've not felt like a Partner, nor do I understand how I qualify as one. Sure, I see statistics that amount to pennies. Is that the sum of the partnership curation process? A short time ago, I read this blog (below), that reinforces my thinking. It's tough to find anything positive in the ambiguity. Words like "most are eligible" means up to 50 percent are ineligible. I don't think I'll find positive reinforcement or credibility from an organization that keeps everyone in the dark about how it's achieved. For instance, what does a clap mean? Writers have their criteria, while Medium, if any, is unknown. That said, I do find positivity in the connections I've made with writers. Connections are creativity. In its favor, Medium does facilitate that.

https://blog.medium.com/updates-on-mediums-distribution-system-748cfb42f25c