The World Press Photo Foundation has suspended the authorship attribution of the iconic 1972 photograph 'The Terror of War' (also known as 'Napalm Girl') from Associated Press photographer Nick Út. The decision follows new research presented in the documentary 'The Stringer' (January 2025) by the VII Foundation, which suggests that the image was more likely captured by stringer Nguyễn Thành Nghệ or Huỳnh Công Phúc. An independent investigation by forensic analysts and media experts, along with separate inquiries by AP and World Press Photo, found insufficient evidence to definitively confirm the original credit, leading to the suspension until authorship can be conclusively determined.
This matters because 'The Terror of War' is one of the most influential and widely recognized images of the 20th century, credited with galvanizing anti-war sentiment during the Vietnam War. The dispute over its authorship raises fundamental questions about attribution, the recognition of local stringers versus staff photographers, and the reliability of historical records in photojournalism. The suspension underscores the ongoing struggle to reconcile legacy narratives with new forensic evidence, and it highlights the broader issue of how the media industry credits—and often overlooks—the contributions of freelance and local photographers in conflict zones.