The well-known retired Associated Press photographer, Nick Ut, famous for capturing the iconic “Napalm Girl” photo in 1972, is at the center of controversy surrounding a new documentary called “The Stringer.” The film challenges Ut’s claim to being the real photographer behind the historic image and instead credits a little-known Vietnamese stringer.
Despite legal action from Ut’s lawyers to stop the screening of the movie at Sundance, the film premiered on Saturday. The documentary delves into the complexities of journalistic practices and raises questions about authorial credit and the exploitation of freelance workers in the media industry.
The filmmakers, led by documentarian Bao Nguyen and photojournalist Gary Knight, conducted a thorough investigation that led them to believe that the real photographer behind the “Napalm Girl” photo was a Vietnamese stringer named Nguyen Nghe. Nghe’s daughter attests to his role in capturing the image, which has sparked a heated debate about journalistic integrity and historical accuracy.
While the AP continues to stand by Ut as the author of the photograph, the filmmakers argue that there is compelling evidence to suggest otherwise. The film sheds light on the power dynamics within the industry and the need for transparency in journalistic practices.
As the controversy continues to unfold, “The Stringer” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by journalists, particularly freelancers, in an increasingly corporatized media landscape. The documentary’s impact on the industry remains to be seen, as it awaits distribution in a landscape where corporations wield significant influence over the dissemination of information.