The treatment of Universal Medicine in the press of late brings up some serious questions and concerns around journalistic integrity. In the interests of disclosure let me first state that I am a long-time participant at Serge Benhayon’s courses and workshops. But while risk of bias is noted, my arguments are nonetheless solid when I point out that journalistic integrity was missing in recent articles by two press journalists about Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.
Honesty, accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts along with a fair opportunity for reply are the basic foundation of the Australian Journalism Association Code of Ethics. The Journalism code, states that where a source seeks anonymity, do not agree without first considering the source’s motives and any alternative attributable source.
The articles maintained that Universal Medicine was a cult, led by ‘cult leader’ Serge Benhayon. This was an extremely damming accusation towards a man who is well regarded in the community and widely respected as a practitioner and presenter of Complementary Medicine therapies. The basis of the articles was provided by a number of anonymous people who, claimed that Universal Medicine ruined their relationships.
Yet neither journalist specifically sought out each of their partners to find out the other side of the story as to their reasons why the relationship broke up, apart from a brief mention that was buried in the latest SMH article. And therein lies the problem … the articles by both journalists were skewed to represent one side of the story, hence the many inaccuracies.
And whilst there has been doubt cast by the print journalists about esoteric modalities, perhaps some interviews with practitioners’ clients would have provided a balanced viewpoint, rather than rely on the word of people with a cross to bear. With further investigation, the journalists may then have revealed the truth that thousands of normal, everyday people have benefitted from seeing Universal Medicine accredited practitioners.
Serge does not tell people not to see a registered doctor if they are ill. He openly states he is pro-medicine and that esoteric and conventional medicine can and always should work side by side. The information is openly available on the Esoteric Medicine audio presentations on the Universal Medicine website. Why didn’t the journalists check this?
Serge presents information about the effects of various foods, drinks and self-destructive behaviours and it is up to people to make their own decisions if they wish to modify their eating or living habits. For the many that have, including myself, life is much more vibrant and healthy.
And as for the contention that Serge ‘exerts control over lovemaking behaviour’ – that is far from the truth. What is pointed out is that we live in a society where, increasingly, ‘aggressive sex’ has become the norm, and this is at the expense of ‘making love’ and enjoying the deep and connected relationships that we are capable of.
Investigative journalism is essential and can provide a service to society by uncovering unscrupulous practices. Perhaps the best example is the work done by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein from the Washington Post when they uncovered the ‘Watergate’ affair in the early seventies, ultimately bringing down Richard Nixon.
Woodward and Bernstein were meticulous in verifying truth and would not publish unless their sources’ statements had been validated. True investigative journalism is about ethics.
Unfortunately ethical reporting appears to have gone out the window with the many inaccuracies appearing in these articles about Universal Medicine. Did the journalists have a predetermined agenda to destroy or damage Universal Medicine’s reputation? If not, why did they not provide balanced articles? But then again, there’s nothing like truth to get in the way of a good story.
It’s a matter of integrity.
By Rod Harvey
Words on Serge Benhayon 
Thank you Rod, as the media is now exposing the depth of lies they are willing to go to and those who are shining their light and holding the Truth will remain unruffled by the Lies.
“Serge ‘exerts control over lovemaking behaviour’ – that is far from the truth.” It is quite an accusation, and an interesting one considering religions like the Catholic Church attempt to and do influence sexual behaviours, as well as other religions that require celibacy. And then there’s the ongoing sexualisation of society, in part peddled by the news media, and not to forget porn, all which can have an influence over how we view and engage in sex and relate to others. It’s interesting to see the damning and false accusations directed at Serge when our world (including religions) is riddled with influences over our sexual behaviours. To me, and ridiculously so, Serge is the person who is raising the standards around sex to lovemaking and is getting the most criticism.
What I have noticed from this whole thing over the years is how corrupt the media and many other industries are. However I reckon this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Leigh there was recently a story in Australian newspapers about $100,000 being delivered in a plastic shopping bag to a political party’s premises by a wealthy businessman. This is just the corruption that gets seen… imagine the rest!
The journalists didn’t want to check their facts probably knowing if they did the information they had been given would not stack up against the whole truth that Serge Benhayon presents. What I am learning by all this negative press attention is that there is a force that does not want the truth to be told because truth exposes all the deceit and lies that they have used to saturate humanity with. It is the duty of all masters that are sent to awaken humanity to offer a choice which is to stay stuck in the rot that has become our current way of living or to choose to live connected again to our bodies and live a different way. So many people are choosing the alternative way of life and reaping the benefits that the unseen as yet force is doing all that it can to miss inform in what ever way it can to stop the tide that is turning against it. As more and more people wake up to the fact that they have been held in a consciousness they were unaware of and start to make more loving choices so the force will for once and all be exposed for the evil it is.
The truth is there to be seen and it is just a matter of whether we want to see it – or not.
Someone wrote a blog about supply and demand, that there is a demand before the supply of something, anything. So if we step back and take a look at what is currently occurring then we as a race of human-beings must be demanding something? And I wonder if it is as simple as not wanting to take any responsibility for the mess we are all living in? So we would rather rot in our own mess then clean it up. Therefore there is a demand for the truth to be obscured once again within the veils of lies so we can live in the seeming comfort we demand.
If the news was full of truth and integrity maybe this could be uncomfortable and confronting for us all, because the standards would be raised exposing our own lack of truth, lack of speaking up, and possibly our deceit and lies? Not that I have anything against humanity or see them as ‘bad’ as most people are pretty decent, but we can so easily settle into a comfort instead of raising the standards and bringing to the surface what needs to be healed so we can build stronger communities.
I have been staying with family that I do not see that often and while chatting to a close family friend they remarked how changed I was, how steady and confident I seemed now compared to how I was when they last saw me, when they could see I was struggling and was so lost. I had no hesitation in telling them or anyone for that matter that this complete turnaround in my life and how I now live is due to the support of Serge Benhayon his family and Universal Medicine. I live a quality of life that I never knew was possible and I will not and cannot give this up. So for me I am the living proof that the presentations of Serge Benhayon are true. Life is based on energy and the choices we make based on what energy we are choosing has a consequence.
This kind of journalism is a sort of noise completely void of truth, a sort of fog trying to hide or distort the evidence. Nonetheless, any of these strategies to create another false reality actually have its expiry time and in the end of the day, everything will be seen for what it simply is.
You speak of decency, respect and integrity something which is missing in most of our media today, who are driven by sensationalism, greed and an agenda that is all about distraction and feeding the frenzy. The question for all of us is do we feed this media beast?
Great blog Rod, it is a matter of integrity and I agree there is a difference between the real deal investigative journalism and a licence to print lies which it seems is the mode of operations most of the press seems to prefer at the current time, not just towards Universal Medicine but across the board.
Every walk in life should follow ethical standards that are supportive of the greater-all and thus starting with being at-least modestly-looking at being decent and respect-full towards each other would start the ball rolling.
It’s a ridiculous statement that Serge exerts control over lovemaking behaviour. How would he police it? He would have to be like Santa Claus visiting each house every night checking in on couples! There is such a lack of common sense and intelligence in such lies peddled by the media.
Thank you Rod, there is decency, honesty and integrity in all you have written here, which feels like true journalism. One of the shocks decent people experience around this kind of journalism is that not only do the journalists and media outlets not care that they have it wrong, they may have actively pursued and constructed a story that they know is lies.
The question raises: are we asking for truth in the world? Secondly, do we have journalism in our world is truth stood for, or do we prefer a polished form of information, stimmulation or distraction with entertainment.
The reality of life today is that there are a whole lot of broken down relationships, in fact, very few marriages last the full term of life. Divorce is huge in our global population. And it is also a very clear reality that in many cases these ‘break-ups’ are not amicable, with one side often pitching against the other for favour with friends, family members or colleagues. And so, with this being our collectively lived reality, that is – with what we are all living with each day – it makes sense that journalists would play in to this same way of communicating and relaying relationship breakdowns – a biased and unfair view that is actually considered the norm.
Journalists are all too often now pushing the boundaries of what is morally acceptable and hide behind what they consider to be public interest, however as a body they are losing their integrity and as a result journalists need to relook at their values and live by those values that will bring back the integrity they have lost.
Yes, the extremes of poor journalism are becoming worse as we see sensationalism, hype, gossip and press abuse taking precedent and are seemingly being accepted as ‘normal’. Absolutely, press media and media in general have a responsibility as to what they are supplying but so do we with what we are asking for. As the public that consumes media what is it that we are demanding and why are we being supplied with such corrupted reporting? Are we really ready to see the truth, or are we ‘happy’ with avoiding the truth that is always there to be presented and instead opting for entertainment, sensationalism and gossip instead?
Each time this happens I realise I still believe that people want to tell the truth more than they want the ‘readers’ or the ‘hits’ and the only way to get that is sensational headline and salacious story which is easier to get out there and consider the consequences afterwards than to do the research and due diligence first. It saddens me, frustrates me, angers me and then I realise that I have enabled the behaviour by not speaking up and speaking out earlier. We all have a part to play when we see extremes of corruption because we have let those small things go.
It is clear that when you have a one sided version of a subject that there is no true clarity of the whole, therefore we rely on journalists’ integrity to make sure they produce an article that is both balanced and fair.
When we face cases of abuse by journalists, we are forced to ask: what is the problem? The lack of a clear ethics code? Its lack of enforcement? Or the fact that the code of ethics is not there to help journalists to truly serve us? The last question forces us to reflect on the fact that even when there is no an obvious case of open abuse, media is not an evolutionary agent.
The sad thing is that how many of us were brought up to believe and assume that what was written in the media was true? I know I have been one who wouldn’t have dreamt to question or discern a newspaper or any news in the media but boy how I have changed! My awareness to discern not just in the news but in my every day is building and even when something doesn’t feel quite right I am learning patience!
The absence of integrity in the media report seems to have become the way it is and we seem to be no longer surprised by that. We seem to have become immune to the absence of integrity as our standard keeps slipping and we now have very little decency and respect to each other on every level. Not returning a call/email seems to have become normal, making others wait or not turning up to something we said we would, or not even bothering to let others know what we would do, not keeping our promises and not doing what we said we would do – sometimes we can be so unreliable and expect others to be ‘understanding’. Are we willing to bring more decency and respect in our own day to day interactions?
Fumiyo I love your point here, a lack of decency and respect has crept into all areas of our lives, perhaps this is why in general we don’t have an issue with the lies printed in the paper, until of course its related to us. I agree that the overall decency and integrity we live with need to be in question here not just the media.
It’s a good call Fumiyo, and though it’s easy to see outright lack of decency and integrity in the world and feel we ourselves are not like that, the truth is there is always more integrity and decency we too can live.
How often have we heard this, “there’s nothing like truth to get in the way of a good story.” It’s pretty much used anywhere these days when it comes to attempting to understand the current forms of journalism or media. It’s like we get to a certain point and knowing what we are seeing and yet can’t quite put our finger on it. We know we see a story, we know it’s not the truth and we possibly throw it away a bit by not going further to understand what we see or expose what we have seen. The more we allow this way of being or behaviour to exist the more momentum it gathers into our society. As this article is saying back in the 1970’s it wasn’t how things were reported, there was an integrity there and back them it was possible simply common sense. The allowing of any ‘story’ to go through without the truth being seen will allow more and more of the same. There was a way of living that held this up in the 1970’s that is now further eroded in the 2017’s. We don’t need to return to that era we need to live that era’s value right now.
‘The Journalism code, states that where a source seeks anonymity, do not agree without first considering the source’s motives and any alternative attributable source’ and when it comes to integrity Rod, this statement says it all.
Rod, great breakdown on what true ethics and integrity in journalism are and it’s obvious how far we’ve strayed from them with regards to Universal Medicind and indeed many others who’ve been wrongly vilified. Journalism in many cases now seems to come with a predefined agenda often from the proprietors themselves in addition to the journalists themselves – it’s a huge abuse of power, corruption in other words. This needs to change and it starts with us standing up and calling out the abuse and corruption we see.
Basic journalistic practice should present the facts through investigative journalism, it’s about ethics, the facts and not about hearsay, or presenting a slanted view. People want to read a fair and balanced view, they don’t want to read something that has already made a decision for them.
I would say this is the foundation for any news article, even if it is letting you know what is happening next week. There are ethics, responsibilities, due diligence to be done and I keep wondering why it is one rule for some and another rule for others… quite a bizarre way to live yet there is no part of me that would consider joining them because I would much rather sleep well and not impose anything like that on another person. It is not what I choose to make my life about.
Impressive blog Rod Harvey. A well written article on not only exposing journalism and its ethics today, but proven value of it if used in “meticulous in verifying truth and would not publish unless their sources’ statements had been validated.” A known site that stands to this high code of ethics and value is http://universalmedicinefacts.com
It is a sad fact that a lot of people are not interested in investigating to find out truth but are just focussing on having their own ideals and beliefs confirmed in order to maintain their status quo.
“True investigative journalism is about ethics.” There is an investigative report to be written about why so many in journalism and the media disregard the ethics of their trade and have no respect for integrity.
Let’s face it, the fact that the press can publish blatant lies and get away with this, shows very clearly that industry regulation does not always protect the public against dishonest choices, and behaviours. The truth is that industry self-regulatory schemes work only if there is the threat of state intervention in case of abuse. The press does not suffer from such distant threat. So they publish what they want even if it has not an ounce of truth.
Media industry regulation = toothless tiger.
Ethical journalism does appear to be sorely lacking as a norm and not just regarding Serge. As such, what is offered to humanity is no longer a true service but a manipulation and misinterpretation of the facts for the purpose of greed or recognition. However it is our apathy in the face of this that allows a lot of the media today to continue to spoon feed us what it is without calling it to account on what it is truly up to.
So true Samantha. For years I simply stopped reading the newspapers or watch the news because I could not stand the bias and often very one sided reports. But this is just trying to ignore what is going on and is not really addressing it either, much more important to actually start to speak up about it as is happening on this blog, which is why I value this site and appreciate the people involved with Universal Medicine, because they have the guts to open their mouth.
Thank you Rod for a great article about the lack of integrity in the media whose practices are definitely against their own code of ethics. “Honesty, accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts along with a fair opportunity for reply are the basic foundation of the Australian Journalism Association Code of Ethics. ” After reading the lack of truth in their reporting about Serge I now ask myself the question is there any truth in what is being presented anytime in the media.
I agree Rod there is very little perspective offered by sections of the media today. I read an article recently on how sex has changed for young people today, the influence that pornography has had on young boys and men and how this has skewed their view on the physical act itself and girls are also being exposed to the same thing altering their views. Resulting in more aggressive actions and requests. Now this is not necessarily in the popular media and not published consistently. I can say that exploring sex as a young person was not like this for me or my friends, so what is changing? The fact that is it changing is a terrible blight on what it says about how we are in relationships and how men and women are with each other and of course ourselves. Then we have Serge Benhayon who talks about this, not to criticise in any way, but to bring awareness to so that we know what is going on, so we don’t continue to bury our heads in the sand. He also talks about our relationships and that it is very possible to live in a way where there is not an ounce of abuse and only a way of living that comes from love, because that is our natural way of being. So the question I have is why is a man like Serge Benhayon being highlighted in the media for this and we are not making the big deal of the abuse that is going on everyday in our communities. Our priorities are all screwed up.
Spot on Rod, journalistic integrity was buried very deep when these articles were written about Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine. I was interviewed for the Brisbane articles and not a word of what I said made it to print. The journalist, Josh Robinson, clearly had the story written already, and did not let the facts get in the way.
Brilliantly written Rod. And how on earth have these reporters not been penalised for breaching the apparent journalism code of conduct. That’s the most outrageous part of it, that society accepts that we are lied to daily. How many times have we had a conversation with someone and laughed at the rubbish we’ve been fed by the media? We don’t take it seriously, why is that? How can such a powerful industry be so ignorant and arrogant, but more importantly how and why do we, the listeners, the consumers, allow it?
A story that only tells one side or version without considering the whole from all angles is always going to be inaccurate.
It seems to me like almost all of journalism begins with a predetermined agenda, even if it’s just to paint the bleakest picture possible, there’s no balance or truth in this style of reporting, and as you say absolutely zero integrity. We need to actually know the facts and the truth of what’s going on, not a paper’s predetermined agenda, or someone’s un-researched opinion.
Integrity is something that is sadly missing from so much media these days. In fact it would be great if it was taught in schools. It is vital as a society that we maintain value in integrity. This thirst for ratings and click bait seems to be trampling on some values that need to remain dear to us.
For matter of a certain persons privacy for now I will remain anonymous, even though no such right was afforded to me by this certain person. I will share that my previous partner is a person that has unresolved issues with our past relationship. Instead of taking any responsibility for the reason things broke down between the two of us, this person has jumped on a bandwagon and given themselves a get out of jail free card. This ‘bandwagon’ was taken to the internet and to other media outlets by others that also have unresolved issues, they all have a common goal and that is to blame others for their personal issues.
After many years of a toxic relationship I thought we were finally heading into a good place. I had put up with years of abuse for a blind commitment to a picture I had of a ‘perfect family’. After going to see someone to help with our relationship all appeared to be improving or had it? All the right things were being said to me and I thought the picture was back on track. At the time I was paying for all the living expenses we shared while this person was spending their spare time going behind my back trying to get media attention. I was disgusted and when confronted with what I found out this person freely admitted they just enjoyed the attention that this was bringing to them and it wasn’t personal to me.
When questioned this person directly about the lies his reply was ‘ that he knows that Unimed had nothing to do with our break up.”
The media thrive on anything that sounds scandalous, even if its source is a couple of unhinged revenge filled ex-partner that are willing to lie for a story.
In one of these stories my full name and photo were used, without being interviewed, consulted or even made aware that the article was being published. This is truly a disgrace and shock to be on the receiving end of, there is zero integrity included in the process.
We are all responsible for our choices in life and in my experience Universal Medicine has always presented this fact very clearly. If relationships have broken up then the responsibility for this lies with those who made that choice and not with an organisation that supports people to be more self-aware and self-loving – or would we rather remain unaware and have relationships that have no true foundation? Through embracing this self-awareness my relationships have flourished, because I find what I need within me and have no need for others to be anything other than who they are.
Well said Rod, the lack of integrity these journalists have displayed has completely destroyed any trust in the media whatsoever.. After reading these blatant lies and gross inaccuracies I can no longer read a newspaper. It has opened my eyes to just how manipulated our news is. I knew it was bad but this really brought it home. It is not news at all. It is worse than the usual sensationalise rubbish that titillates and entertains a bored audience; it is designed to destroy and debase but all it has truly managed to destroy in the end is any trust in the media.
I agree – it is a matter of integrity. We desperately need to bring integrity back into our daily lives and not accept the gross lack of integrity that has seeped into every area of life as we know it.
There’s a few things to comment on in what you write Rod and the first is that relationships break up because there are two people that cannot seem to communicate enough. Blaming someone or something else is just choosing to not take self responsibility. Relationships are like bridges – they have two holding points and need those two to be solid and contributing otherwise the bridge will not hold.
There are comedy shows about unscrupulous journalists throwing together a story and not caring to check their sources and just hungry for ratings. These media people seem to have taken their ethics from such shows.
Thanks Rod for your common sense blog which exposes a gaping hole in the integrity of the journalists involved in writing the articles criticizing Serge Benhayon. Checking all the facts would seem to me to be a very basic starting point for journalists when writing any articles and certainly not an optional aspect. What I also find alarming is that editors have then approved such stories to go to print which shows that there are layers here within the one industry that are lacking any form of integrity. Yet the media is generally so influential in daily life around the world. What is interesting is that more and more people are finding their way to presentations by Serge Benhayon and finding that what he is saying makes sense and are gradually changing their lives as a result. The truth does come through in the end.
Thank you Rod, what an amazing blog. Could it be the ethics of the journalist involved in the lies against Universal Medicine align to and assist in not wanting the truth exposed?
I’d love the word ‘Integrity’ to be reinstated globally as a word of top importance and a quality everyone aims to live by. We can see the result of there being so little integrity, it’s especially obvious in careers like journalism, and the result is ugly and results in many people losing trust in mankind.
Me too, and great idea Meg! In this regard, it’s important to note that it’s not just about using the word per se, but that this quality is truly and actually lived and practised.
I agree – not just a word – but an actual living quality.
Cult leader is a far and damning cry from the truth of Serge actually just being a health practitioner and presenter of complimentary medicine. If this kind and level of distortion from reality is evident to sensationalise a story, it is clear that ethics and integrity is sadly not their concern…which then makes it undeniably ours to expose.
It just happened that I used to work for world wild spiritual leaders. What I saw first hand was people had whole team of workers to hide the truth about their life events, they were physically abusive, drinking, swearing and every morning we had a team meeting about… Integrity. It was one of the most harmful environment I ever worked.
Interestingly enough nobody wrote any articles in newspapers or magazines. Maybe because they have been threatened?
Serge Benhayon is totally opposite. I first met him about six years ago and since then I NEVER heard him saying which was not beneficial for whole audience. Or being in any other stage rather than calm and understanding, genuinely focused on the people with whom he was at the time.
The same I can say about his family, just loving, gorgeous people I can trust with my life.
Every single presentation Serge gives is for humanity. And trying to lie about it doesn’t make any difference to the way of his livingness.
Selling out within any organisation causes great harm. Journalists hold a pretty big card in their hand and how they play it can have polar opposite effects. In this instance that you are describing Rod it seems the journalists have behaved underhandedly totalling lacking accountability and, in fact, have behaved fraudulently in a most malicious way. What sort of downward spin is journalism in when their reporting lacks integrity and truth at the foundation?
This is very damning for the journalists and media outlets that published these false stories about Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon. They are out of control in a sense considering the absolute inaccuracies and lies presented as fact, all the while condemning Serge Benhayon whilst the journalists and media companies themselves are rotting in their own corruption.
Thank you Rod for your article, the name of the game for many in journalism to day, is not integrity, but sensationalism, this maybe something in the future the public may become sick of and then truth may have it’s day, as we are seeing exposed to day the past happening in the religious body, being brought to account..
Rod this is indeed a true and honest blog you have written. I can vouch for your statements they contain the truth of the man and the organisation he founded, Universal Medicine. Serge Benhayon is the most credible human being I have met in my 60+ years, and I too have been part of the student body for 8 years. I don’t consider myself a fool or easily taken in by someone, what would I have to gain being in a cult at my age? Certainly not being cut off from family friends and especially my freedom of speech and my choice of where I live, it would be madness! Universal Medicine is NOT a cult.
Thank you Rod, this blog shows that, although you are a long time participant at Serge Benhayon’s courses and workshops, you are not biased although the journalists are in their one side of the story picture based on excitement. You show us what true journalism is about, bringing the bare facts by asking the true questions that have to be asked, and not allowing the emotions that play around to come in.
Rod this is a very solid piece of writing and the journalists would do us all a favour if they were to report in this manner; to the point and factual. The way journalists are reporting the news these days is nothing short of criminal and I am not saying that because I also attend presentations run by Universal Medicine, but because it seems to me that they are on the attack instead of reporting both sides, always looking for that angle which will make the headline – even if it isn’t true.
Rod you raise many relevant points, beginning by having to justify your right to a valid voice due to your involvement with Universal Medicine. It is a cunningly deceitful tactic to attach a label such as ‘cult’ to any organisation as it effectively silences any voice from within. It is abundantly clear that you offer a balanced, discerning and well-considered view. The lack of journalistic integrity evident is no surprise and has come to be expected by the public, seemingly hungry for the latest scandal or gossip at the enormous expense of a society where corruption and lies are now the common language. I am just as guilty as the next of being the one sitting in my safe little world, hoping someone else will call it out and that I can continue on my merry way, undisturbed. Sadly, what we have, and what has been allowed to occur in relation to Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon is a direct reflection of this continuing state of affairs.
Why is it that readers assume that journalists are writing factual accounts when more and more they are creating salacious tales that the public greedily or lazily feeds on? One cannot exist without the other. Nevertheless to deliberately write lies about another (or blatantly fail to investigate) is at best an unkind act, but often a cruel, heartless and uncaring of the consequences to others. There should be accountability.
Well said Rod, I was not familiar with the Australian Journalism Association Code of Ethics, but it is clear that the journalists who wrote theses articles were in flagrant fireguard of their own code.
There IS nothing like truth to get in the way of a good story. True that! It absolutely baffles me why anyone interested in being a journalist would do the very opposite of what it means to be a journalist. It honestly just doesn’t add up for me. At what point do these decisions to contribute to corruption get made? It’s a very sorry state of affairs.
Awesome points Rod, what has been severely lacking in most articles about Universal Medicine has been journalistic integrity and truth, but as you say why let truth get in the way of a good story. It seems for many journalists today the front page and the notoriety of that is more important than the representation of the truth and a balanced article. I feel many would benefit from taking a serious look at their choices and the true intent behind them.
Integrity is what is vastly missing from so much journalism that we are presented with today. It is sad that a profession that has the opportunity to be about truth and balance has become so squalid and rooted in sensationalism and lies. It must be demoralising to read about Woodward and Bernstein and to aspire to that standard of journalism only to discover that the standards have sunk so low that the daily newspapers have put the tabloids out of business by matching their ridiculously embellished stories.
How can it be that these journalists are not held to account for not abiding by their own Code of Conduct which has been put in place to protect the public from such unscrupulous reporting?
Yes Deborah a very good question… I believe the answer is a reflection of the collective ‘comfort’ of society, turning it’s blind eye and allowing corruption in every corner to run rife. What is the point of a Code of Conduct if it is not adhered to, and no consequences for breaching it.
Great question. Why is there a code of Ethics that states:
“Honesty, accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts along with a fair opportunity for reply are the basic foundation of the Australian Journalism Association Code of Ethics.” when nobody adheres to this code of conduct? And more important, why do we allow that?
Well said Rod Harvey, it is a matter of integrity and truth. The media denied me and other women an opportunity to be heard about what had truly gone in our relationships and what led to the media frenzy around Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine. When I did get a chance to speak in an interview it was totally ignored and the lies and twisted stories were given preference over the truth – the media are interested in stimulating the readers’ interest with sensationalist stories without any regard or respect for the truth and how this affects those involved especially Serge Benhayon’s impeccable reputation and business.
Agree Rod. It’s no wonder society is based on corruption when industries like the media can’t do the simple thing of abiding by their own code of ethics. It’s a sad state of affairs, and so widely accepted which is the most confusing part of all. It’s thanks to organisations such as Universal Medicine that do abide by their own code of ethics, that allows those interested in uncovering the truth, to be supported in doing so.
Well said Rod. If journalists practised true integrity as Serge Benhayon does, the world would be a different place. What a force for love and truth they could be.
Lies backfire. The press accuses Serge Benhayon of lack of integrity, which he does not lack. The contrast between what we know is true and a matter of fact and what the press is presenting is so abrupt that this has served as a true eye opener for many of the lack of integrity in the media.
The media, which lacks integrity (fact proved by the Leveson Enquiry in the UK) accuses someone who possess an enormous level of integrity of lacking it. These false accusations have opened the eyes of people who have integrity and who know the truth regarding Serge Benhayon to the extent of the lack of integrity in our world and how damaging is to simply allow it. This is the good part of a story that is otherwise really disturbing.
Thank you Rod, for unraveling so clearly where the press has neglected or most likely intentionally left out information about Universal Medicine and has described it polar opposite to what it really brings and stands for. There seems to be no integrity left nor any ethical conduct applied when it comes to reporting in the Australian press. I wonder for how much longer the people are satisfied with sensationalism and thus buy into the made up stories and lies, and when the yearning for truth will eventually prevail.
Absolutely agree. The journalism exposed here is far from truth and just fosters more lies and corruption. Integrity seems to be unknown in this profession, which does not speak only about the profession, but about those peoples general stand in life. We need true journalism as Rod clearly states: “Investigative journalism is essential and can provide a service to society by uncovering unscrupulous practices.”
Thank you Rod for your article, it seems that ethics and integrity have gone out the door in this day and age, while sensationalism, greed and profits are the name of the game in the world. Truth will one day have its day.
Spot on, greed and profits is ruling the media industry and with that they have no regard for their integrity towards whom they are writing about.
In my life experience I am yet to find any organisation that displays the level of integrity or truth that Universal Medicine offers.
I agree with you Joe. I can’t say I have had something to do with every organisation in the world, but as a by product of being part of society, I have certainly experienced my share and my experience with Universal Medicine has absolutely stood out more than any other business I have ever had anything to do with. Perhaps that’s why they keep winning the People’s Choice award for Best Business in their local area!
It comes to something when, In disclosing yourself to be ‘a long-time participant at Serge Benhayon’s courses and workshops’, you immediately open yourself up to the risk of bias from any source. Your arguments can be as solid, coherent and cogent as you like but where judgment, reaction and prejudice from another precede openness, there will always be a resistance to truth.
Thank you Rod for your blog. It is a matter of integrity and I feel that this has been lost. What we face in the paper today would be very different if Integrity was the under lying foundation of what was written by the Media. Your comment -‘The Journalism code, states that where a source seeks anonymity, do not agree without first considering the source’s motives and any alternative attributable source’ – this appears to be forgotten by the writer and all that matters is getting the story that elicits extreme and biased reactions from it’s readers.
Thanks Rod. While it baffles me that the media would be so irresponsible, I also understand that they did NOT want the truth to be revealed to the general public so they created a damming story that the public would happily devour. While the papers were sold, just like the sun and the moon the truth cannot remain hidden forever.
Not only have we accepted this lesser way of reporting, we have fed it by not speaking out against journalism that lacks integrity because we feed off gossip and jealously and put others down.
Thank you Rod for writing with such truth and integrity. All journalists are required by their own Code of Ethics to investigate the source of any information they receive. Not to do so and spin a sensational story just to increase the circulation only results in decreasing the credibility of anything else they report on.
Great blog Rod, I feel that journalists have a great amount of responsibility to investigate thoroughly and report the truth but yet we are being shown more and more there is a lack of journalistic integrity out there all in the name of a ‘good story’.
Thank you Rod for pointing out that certain journalists have clearly ignored the Australian Journalism Association Code of Ethics. It is extremely disappointing to have to always feel this “doubt” with every news article in recent years and these journalists have re-confirmed my doubts.
Indeed Ryoko, it feels as if this Code of Ethics is not worth the paper it is printed on, if it can be so easily breached, in such an unethical manner.
Great article challenging journalists who are not choosing to research their sources and choosing not to print Fact. It is obvious to all who read these articles, or the quotes from them that they are loaded with bias. There is no reason why integrity and truth would be marginalised in current journalism, other than that there is already a predetermined agenda. It is a choice that the journalist is very clearly making.
It is clear and obvious that all of the journalists who have published anything about Universal Medicine to this current date have had a ‘predetermined agenda to destroy or damage Universal Medicine’s reputation’. All that has been presented in the media about Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon has been completely biased and fed by sources of dubious integrity and intent. As you say Rod ‘Investigative journalism is essential and can provide a service to society by uncovering unscrupulous practices’. Unfortunately this has definitely not happened in regards to what has been published about Universal Medicine. All that has been shown is the unscrupulous practices of the media themselves! I am extremely disappointed and disillusioned with the integrity of the media regarding this. They could and should be more aligned to pursuing truth instead of ‘never letting the truth get in the way of a good story’.
Well said Rob, it’s alarming that truth gets pushed aside if there is a news story to twist and sensationalise. If we bring anything back from the 70’s let it be journalistic integrity!
Great point Rod that a lot of journalism today has lost its way and lost the integrity that should be its basis. What’s the point of having a code of conduct or ethics in a profession if it is consistently ignored? And I say if you can’t follow the code then don’t call yourself a journalist. Call yourself a gossip artist or storyteller maybe but don’t misuse and abuse the name of a very noble profession by calling yourself a journalist if you can’t write with integrity.
Integrity is not a hobby or part-time job but a way of living and being with self and people. The kind of journalism that’s executed here not only spreads mis-information about Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine but tells a lot about the journalists themselves, not only professionally but personally.
Integrity is not a virtue that is high up on many peoples agenda these days. Many words are bandied about in business & self development: success, confidence, passion, positive thinking, independence, communication, profit. Even when integrity is included, it is seldom at the top of the list – it is something to consider & choose if & when possible. The newspapers that you mentioned chose to ditch integrity as it would have got in the way of a good (money-making) story. Universal Medicine again goes against the trend, in that integrity is way up the list – it is chosen as a way of life, no exception. Wow, wouldn’t that be a great story to tell?
I think you nailed it Rod with – “But then again, there’s nothing like truth to get in the way of a good story.”
Yes I am one of those people who have hugely benefited and seen my life turn right around for the better when I started attending courses and presentations by Serge and Universal Medicine. I would like to add I have seen improvement in all areas of my life, starting with my health, my relationships, work, family, finances, excercise, and is the reason I keep returning to the workshops/courses, between 2 and 4 times a year.
As you so rightly express, Rod, all sense of integrity and ethical journalism has gone out of the window in the case of reporting about Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine. It seems to be the case that ‘good news is not news’.
‘Investigative journalism is essential and can provide a service to society by uncovering unscrupulous practices’ – I totally agree Rod and it is clearly evident from the distorted articles on Universal Medicine that they most definitely need to investigate the unscrupulous practices in their own backyard.
Absolutely – well said – integrity is everything.
Great blog Rod, journalism has become lazy going for an easy route of sensationalism instead of true investigative journalism. I agree Rod true journalism can provide a service to us all, ‘Woodward and Bernstein were meticulous in verifying truth and would not publish unless their sources’ statements had been validated. True investigative journalism is about ethics.’
I’m sure journalists of this calibre would be horrified to read some of today’s copy and past journalism.
Agreed Judy I am horrified as well. The values we used to hold in this world seem to be rapidly eroding. Honesty, decency, integrity, the truth, love etc, have all been replaced with making a buck, taking care of no. 1, competing, dishonesty, and so on. Taking a look at what floods our television we are championing vacuous, narcissistic individuals who care about nothing more than their own celebrity and popularity, and reality TV shows that rate better based on the abusive treatment dealt out to competitors. Self absorption and abuse are the new norm alongside taking care of the self’s own interests at the expense of others. The shocking journalism mentioned in this blog is only the tip of the iceberg for society’s decay.
True journalism is indeed about ethics and often today that’s forgotten – we’ve bought into sensationalism and drama and don’t consider the affects on others which this blog highlights here. It really is time for journalism to get back to it’s true calling – it’s badly needed in the world.
Thanks Rod, that’s a great piece of writing. It’s obvious you’ve taken the necessary time to compile and articulate a well balanced and truthful perspective. It’s a shame the journalists couldn’t follow suit but instead were more interested in gaining readership by focusing on the unscrupulous and unsubstantiated fabrications about Serge, a man who embodies and lives a level of integrity that is by enlarge completely foreign in our world.
I agree Rob, what a great read “The Truth about Serge Benhayon” would be. Surely there must be at least one journalist out there who would be interested in writing a truthful piece about Universal Medicine, without looking to taint and distort the truth. Maybe one day. Thanks Rod.
Thank you Rod, the journalists so far have missed an awesome opportunity to present to their readers the simple facts that when we begin to listen to our bodies, and bring integrity to our work and relationships, life becomes amazing because we are amazing!
Absolutely stillcurtin – One day there will be a true exploration of what Serge presents and the world will have the opportunity to understand truly. It just takes a journalist willing to be honest and open to true enquiry. Bring it on.
I’m 44 years old, and for half of my life I was searching for help for my emotional pain.(A deep deep sadness, I could never understand where it came from?) I met many psychologists, alternative medicine doctors, kinesiology practitioners, even gurus, but nobody could really met me and nobody could really help.
Then I met Serge and the Universal Medicine team and I can say, that Serge is the first person, who I have found who lives what he presents, and he’s the first person who really met me. In some workshops I was shocked what he was saying and in some cases I did not agree with was being presented, but I gave what was being presented a chance, a chance to test it for myself… I`m still testing, but in 4 years, I have found what I have tested/lived to be true.
By the way, Serge and the Unimed Team showed me, that I was not a victim in my emotional pain. That this was not something that just happens. I learnt, that I have the whole responsibility for my life, but I’ve to choose it and to live it.
Yes we do not have to be a victim of our emotional pain, if we choose to take responsibility things change, we can change. And that’s both the joy and the challenge presented by Universal Medicine that we have a choice and we are where we are because of our previous choices, we can accept this (often challenging), but ultimately in any given moment we can change those choices – responsibility and empowerment.
Thank you for a great piece, true investigative journalism has it’s place in society, and this is what is lacking in all the articles about Serge and Universal Medicine. So far it has been for sensationalism and to sell papers, without a care for who or what they set out to damage or destroy to get that so called ‘good story”
Thank you Rod for your comments on ethics and journalism, or should I state the lack of. I am now more aware of how journalists can report if they so choose, they can report a subject that someone from the public has told them is a fact even though another in the community may prove what they state to be fact, to actually be an absolute lie. It does not matter to the journalist who and what he/she may hurt in the process of doing this, all just to get a sensationalised story to attract readers. And then what I find even more disgraceful is that an article can be published with sensationalised headlines on the front page of the paper, that can slam someones integrity and do serious damage as it is full of lies and then when the paper receives enough complaints they print a tiny little paragraph on page four that most would overlook. They state it is an apology, but truly it is a paragraph that keeps them legally safe, if it truly were a sincere apology we would see it appear on the front page of the paper in big bold type, just as the lies were published. I am so shocked at the lack of ethics.
It disturbs me that journalists feel their job is to keep the public informed and yet what I have witnessed lately with several papers/journalists with regards to their lies concerning Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon, is how they are misleading the public for their own personal gain, even when they have been informed of the truth before they publish a story of lies. This has to be corruption at a high level. Hitler got people to conform to his ideals through propaganda in the media, as people believe what the papers say. This has been an abuse of power by the journalists and papers involved.
Thanks Rod. We know Serge and we know the level of Integrity with which he lives – imagine if journalists lived and practised with the same degree of integrity?? Journalism would be transformed overnight!!!
Wow, what a concept of integrity in journalism! I know it seems far off at the moment, but that day will come, for certain.
Wow Eunice, wouldn’t that be something. We all do know integrity and for those who know Serge, we know just how powerful and transformative that level of integrity can be thanks to the reflection that Serge presents, walks, talks and lives. Even if a handful of journalists were to step up to that opportunity, there would definitely be a revolution.
I agree Eunice – and perhaps if journalists exercised this integrity, they may find different things to report on such as real stories about real people without sensationalism and that offer true inspiration and support for others to make true choice.