Andover, Mass. - Helium, an online "citizen journalism hub," announced on Wednesday that it has raised $17 million in its first round of venture capital, led by Signature Capital.

Massachusetts-based Helium.com currently has a community of over 150,000 writers, who cover a broad range of subjects.

The company recently announced a change to its terms of service, in which "starred" writers on Helium.com will receive upfront payments for all new articles, "in a move to reward the site's highest quality writers and to promote quality content at Helium.com."

The company said it will use the new funding to "build tight partnerships with leading publishers and provide support for the launch of new digital media products."

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