Photo group says it has ‘suspended attribution' of historic Vietnam picture because of doubts
An organization that honored The Associated Press' Nick Ut with its ' photo of the year ' in 1973 for a picture of a girl running from a napalm attack in the Vietnam War says it has 'suspended its attribution' to Ut because of doubts over who actually took it.
World Press Photo's report Friday adds to the muddle over an issue that has split the photographic community since a movie earlier this year, 'The Stringer,' questioned Ut's authorship. The photo of a naked and terrified Kim Phuc became an iconic symbol of the war's tragedy.
After two investigations, The Associated Press said it found no definitive evidence to warrant stripping Ut's photo credit. The AP said it was possible Ut took the picture, but the passage of time made it impossible to fully prove, and could find no evidence to prove anyone else did.
World Press Photo said its probe found that two other photographers — Nguyen Thanh Nghe, the man mentioned in 'The Stringer,' and Huynh Cong Phuc — 'may have been better positioned' to take the shot.
'We conclude that the level of doubt is too significant to maintain the existing attribution,' said Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo. 'At the same time, lacking conclusive evidence pointing definitively to another photographer, we cannot reassign authorship, either.'
World Press Photo, an organization whose awards are considered influential in photography, won't attempt to recover the cash award given to Ut, a spokeswoman said.
Ut's lawyer, James Hornstein, said his client hadn't spoken to World Press Photo after some initial contact before 'The Stringer' was released. 'It seems they had already made up their mind to punish Nick Ut from the start,' he said.
Gary Knight, a producer of 'The Stringer,' is a four-time judge of the World Press Photo awards and a consultant to the World Press Photo Foundation.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
The AP said Friday that its standards 'require proof and certainty to remove a credit and we have found that it is impossible to prove exactly what happened that day on the road or in the (AP) bureau over 50 years ago.'
'We understand World Press Photo has taken different action based on the same available information, and that is their prerogative,' the statement said. 'There is no question over AP's ownership of the photo.'
Meanwhile, the Pulitzer Prize that Ut won for the photo appears safe. The Pulitzers depend on news agencies who enter the awards to determine authorship, and administrator Marjorie Miller — a former AP senior editor — pointed to the AP's study showing insufficient proof to withdraw credit. 'The board does not anticipate future action at this time,' she said Friday.
___
David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
15 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
US concedes 4 first-half goals, falls to Switzerland 4-0 for first 4-game losing streak since 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The United States gave up four goals in the first half and looked unprepared for next year's World Cup, getting routed by Switzerland 4-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night as the Americans lost their fourth straight game for the first time since 2007. Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th. The Americans have lost four consecutive home games for the third time and first since 1988. Switzerland won its third straight match and extended the U.S. winless streak against European opponents to eight games since 2021. Fans at Geodis Park booed loudly as the U.S. gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since Nov. 9, 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta. The match was played one year and one day before the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S. starts. Going into their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are 5-5 under Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination last year's Copa America led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. Ndoye burst behind Nate Harriel to run onto a through pass for the first goal; Manzambi dribbled past Max Arfsten along the endline to leave Aebischer with a tap-in for the second; goalkeeper Matt Turner spilled Ricardo Rodriguez's shot to leave Embolo an open net for the third; and a mix-up when Quinn Sullivan passed to Sebastian Berhalter as the former coach's son slipped created a giveaway that led to Manzambi's first international goal. The U.S. had not lost four straight games since a five-game skid in 2007. The Americans were missing Christian Pulisic (wanted time off); Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed); Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup); Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun (injured); and Sergiño Dest (regaining fitness). Turner played his first game for club or country since March 23. Berhalter started in his debut, and Brenden and Paxten Aaronson became the fourth set of brothers to start for the U.S., and the first since George and Louis Nanchoff in 1979. Pochettino made nine changes from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Turkey, keeping only Arfsten and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The U.S. made five changes to start the second half and Damian Downs made his debut in the 75th minute. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
Toronto Star
31 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Authorities believe they spotted ex-soldier Travis Decker, who is wanted in deaths of 3 daughters
SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say they believe they spotted Travis Decker, an ex-soldier wanted in the deaths of his three daughters, near a remote alpine lake in Washington state, after receiving a tip from hikers who said they saw a lone person who appeared to be ill-prepared for the conditions. The Chelan County Sheriff's office said in a Facebook post Tuesday that tracking teams responded immediately, and a helicopter crew spotted a hiker near Colchuk Lake, in a popular Cascade Range backpacking area called The Enchantments.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teen injured in sword attack at Brandon high school
BRANDON — A 16-year-old male was taken into custody in relation to a sword attack at Neelin High School Tuesday afternoon that prompted a lockdown of the building. A 15-year-old male student was rushed to the Brandon Regional Health Centre in serious condition after suffering injuries to his chest, forearms, hands and thighs, police said. He was later upgraded to stable condition. Brandon Police Service Insp. Jason Dupuis said the victim's 'injuries were significant and serious.' Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Brandon Police Service vehicles sit in front of École Secondaire Neelin High School on Tuesday after Brandon Police responded to an incident at the school after a student was allegedly seriously injured with a sword. The school was placed into a lockdown and students were released to the custody of parents of parents, relatives and guardians. Dupuis told a news conference police responded to a call from a Neelin student who said, 'a male is going crazy and holding a sword' at 1:15 p.m. Police arrived at the school within minutes later and found the suspect at 1:22 p.m., Dupuis said. Officers used a Taser on him during the arrest. Police Chief Tyler Bates said police didn't believe there were any other victims. A post by the Brandon School Division Tuesday afternoon noted that the lockdown had been implemented 'due to an intruder in the building with a weapon.' BPS officers and cadets stood at the entrances surrounding the school when the Sun arrived before 3 p.m., and parents were lined up outside the gymnasium to pick up their children, with many students walking out of the school holding hands with their parents, giving them hugs and crying. 'I saw him chasing one of our students with a sword, then I ran to class,' said Fathia, who didn't want to give her last name. 'I was just scared, that's all,' she said through tears while standing next to her mom, who had picked her up from the school. Another student described what happened after the attack started. 'All I know is all of a sudden, doors were slamming and we got told to sit in the corner and our teacher directed us to turn the lights off, sit in the corner and pretty much be quiet,' said Jordan-Blayne Bjornsson. 'We were definitely all scared, 'cause we didn't know exactly what was happening,' the Grade 12 student said. 'None of us felt very good and I know there were a lot of people crying.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. She said police escorted students to the gymnasium after a while. 'People were panicked, people were sad,' said Bjornsson. 'I think a lot of people were just scared and they didn't know what happened. Police didn't say whether the victim and suspect knew each other. More information would be released Wednesday, he said. 'Our investigators will be hard at work throughout the night,' said Bates. 'We really wanted to get out and at least provide some information to citizens of Brandon, to alleviate angst and concern they would understandably have.' — Brandon Sun
