In a world awash with digital content, there are few voices as vital as those raising awareness about the darkest corners of the internet, where children's lives hang in the balance. LiSTNR, the podcast platform, has achieved international acclaim with its groundbreaking podcast, "Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures." This podcast takes us inside Taskforce Argos, a team of Australia's elite detectives dedicated to infiltrating global criminal networks and rescuing children from online sexual abuse.

Launched in late 2022, "Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures" (“Disclosed”) continues to captivate audiences at home and abroad, earning recognition and accolades. The most recent honour is its selection as a finalist in the internationally renowned Signal Awards, which celebrates exceptional podcasting and the people behind it. The podcast has been shortlisted in the Limited Series & Specials - True Crime category, standing as one of only four global finalists. The winners will be revealed on October 10th in New York.

This achievement follows earlier accolades, including a Gold Award at the New York Radio Festival for Best Narrative Documentary and the title of Best Documentary at the Radio Today Podcast Awards in July. It has also been named a finalist in the prestigious 2023 Kennedy Awards in Audio Journalism: Outstanding Podcast.

"Disclosed" marked the first release from LiSTNR's Factual podcast team, entrusted with developing narrative investigative docu-series on crime and injustice. Executive Producers Emma Lancaster and Belinda Lopez, both award-winning storytellers, led this challenging endeavour. Their commitment to rigorous journalism, sensitivity in handling disturbing content, and a victim-focused, trauma-informed approach throughout.

Belinda Lopez shared her thoughts on the series, stating, "The production of the series was demanding due to access challenges, the disturbing nature of the content, and legal hurdles. The result is a bingeable series for parents and true crime listeners."

"Disclosed" takes listeners on a journey alongside Taskforce Argos, an elite Australian Police unit, as it investigates and dismantles The Love Zone (TLZ), a nefarious child exploitation network operating on the dark web. This brave original production sheds light on the heinous and pervasive world of online child sexual abuse while offering practical advice to combat it.

The production team went to extraordinary lengths to tell this story, including seeking court approval to lift a long-standing suppression order that restricted media coverage of the case. Collaborating producers at DNX Media secured special judicial approval to release police interviews with the Australian kingpin behind The Love Zone. Taskforce Argos also granted remarkable access to key evidence from their investigations.

Emma Lancaster emphasised their mission, stating, "We are not interested in making true crime content in a traditional or trope-based way. We are committed to demonstrating how stories of crime reveal systemic injustices in our legal system and world. And our productions are focused on making real-world impacts."

Lopez added, "Law enforcement officials in Australia and internationally are using the podcast as a training resource, and the Australian e-Safety Commissioner has acknowledged the podcast's contribution to raising awareness about this deeply misunderstood and generally avoided topic."

As Akhim Dev, the narrator of the podcast, aptly put it, "As a dad, my first instinct was to switch off. What I know is this, by turning away we will never understand the greatest threat facing children today, and now we've got to learn how to fight it." This podcast is a call to action.

"Disclosed" is just one of many nonfiction and fiction projects emerging from LiSTNR's Factual and Drama vertical, under the leadership of Jennifer Goggin.

It's a stark reminder that in a digital age where information is abundant, we must actively choose to listen to the stories that matter most. "Disclosed: The Children in the Pictures" is one such story, and the world is indeed listening.