Contributors to citizen journalism site Helium will be allowed entry to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), as part of a new partnership between the organisations.

The SPJ, one of the oldest journalism organisations in the US, will invite 6,000 of the site's best contributors to become members, according to a press release.

"This partnership signifies a considerable elevation in the stature, awareness and quality of citizen journalism as it is perceived within the traditional journalism world," said Mark Ranalli, CEO of Helium, which offers payment for contributions and the possibility of a revenue share with the site.

Membership as a journalist to the society typically costs $72 for one year.

Existing SPJ members will be encouraged to write and publish work on Helium's channels.

The deal is 'a vital stepping stone for our members to establish and build their digital credibility', said Dave Aeikens, president of the SPJ, in the release.

Last year Helium secured $17 million in funding and has since begun working with Hearst Digital.