San Francisco-based citizen journalism startup Allvoices is expanding its focus to build a global newtwork of professional reporters to add depth to the stories initiated by citizen contributors.

The site, which is similar to Global Voices Online and Ground Report, receives about four million monthly visitors. It has about 200,000 contributors from about 180 countries and territories. Its new program, "Provoices," seeks to augment those contributions.

"One of the great benefits of citizen reporting is that the contributors are often at the right place at the right time," says Lynda Gorov, the former Boston Globe Los Angeles bureau chief who's heading up Provoices. "It's instant access to the front lines of breaking news. But [citizen contributors] don't typically go hunting for news, make dozens of phone calls or dig into court, government or other records to confirm their stories."

"I can see the professional journalists following up stories uncovered by their citizen counterparts, and can see those contributors helping the pros by publishing photos, quotes or stories that enhance their stories," says Gorov, who has reported from Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and throughout the United States.

Allvoices says it will select a limited number of professional contributors in key cities and on key beats. It will pay them up to $250 a story, with potential bonuses for high-traffic pieces.