On the evening of May 16 (Vietnam time), World Press Photo announced issues related to recognizing the author of the photo Napalm Girl.
The 1973 World Press Photo award was given to Associated Press photographer Nick Ut for his photo The terror of war - also known as Napalm Girl. However, the authorship of the photo is being questioned.
A new study published in the documentary The Stringer - released in January - claims that photographer Nick Ut did not take the famous image, prompting the World Press Photo Awards to launch an investigation in the first half of 2025.
"Based on the analysis of the location, distance and type of camera used on the day of the photo shoot, photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe may have been in a better position to take the photo, not Nick Ut. Due to the current suspicion, the World Press Photo Awards has temporarily suspended the recognition of Nick Ut as the author of the photo," said a representative of the World Press Photo Awards.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghe is a driver working for NBC and also sells photos for AP news agency.
However, the value of the Napalm Girl photo is undeniable, with great influence in Vietnam, the US and around the world. Therefore, the award that was given to Napalm Girl in 1973 will not be revoked. The suspension of recognition of authorship is effective until authentic evidence is found.
In an era where misinformation and media manipulation erode public trust, a rethinking of authorship and ethical responsibility is necessary. Photographer Nick Út has not yet commented on the decision to suspend authorship.
Photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe (right) once claimed to be the real owner of the photo Napalm Girl.
Napalm Girl captured the image of a 9-year-old girl named Kim Phuc screaming and running naked after a napalm bombing on June 8, 1972. The photo won the Pulitzer Prize and Photo of the Year in 1973, making Nick Ut famous around the world.
However, the documentary The Stringer, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, claimed that the photographer was actually Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghe. Mr. Nghe also appeared at the premiere and confirmed the story in the film. The content of the film said that Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghe sold the photo to the head of the AP photo bureau in Saigon for $20 and kept a print.
Witnesses in the film all said it was highly likely that Nick Ut was not the real author.
In early May, the AP news agency announced that after analyzing and interviewing witnesses, and examining the archive of photos taken on June 8, 1972, many predictions still favored the possibility that Mr. Nick Ut was the author of the photo. "There is no document proving that the photo of Napalm Girl was taken by someone else," said an AP spokesperson.
(According to TPO)
Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/16/350372/Tam-ngung-cong-nhan-ong-Nick-Ut-la-nguoi-chup-anh-Em-be-Napalm.aspx
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