# Nick Ut
Who / What
Nick Ut is a Vietnamese-American photojournalist and photographer renowned for his powerful visual storytelling. His work primarily focuses on conflict and human suffering, with a notable impact during the Vietnam War.
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Background & History
Born **Huỳnh Công Út** in 1951 in Vietnam, Nick Ut emigrated to the United States as a child. He later joined the Associated Press (AP) in Los Angeles, where he became a leading figure in photojournalism. His career was defined by his iconic images capturing war’s brutality and civilian trauma.
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Why Notable
Ut is celebrated for his **1972 photograph of napalm-burned children fleeing a bombing**, which won the **Pulitzer Prize** and the **World Press Photo of the Year**. This image became one of the most powerful visual testimonies of war’s horrors, sparking global outrage and raising awareness about civilian casualties. His work has since been recognized as a defining moment in photojournalism.
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In the News
Since the release of *The Stringer* (2025), there has been **controversy over the authorship** of his most famous photograph, with claims that it was taken by Nguyễn Thành Nghệ. While AP and World Press Photo have maintained Ut’s attribution, the dispute remains unresolved, prompting ongoing debate about photographic credibility and ethical standards in journalism.
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Key Facts
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