Thomas E. Franklin

Thomas E. Franklin (born 1966) is an American photographer for The Bergen Record, best known for his photograph Raising the Flag at Ground Zero, which depicts firefighters raising the American flag at the World Trade Center after the September 11 attacks.

Biography

Franklin is a 1988 graduate of the State University of New York at Purchase.

Franklin has appeared on radio and television to discuss his photography, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and Oprah. He has been a guest lecturer at major colleges and universities and remains a public speaker in his local community, where he speaks to civics groups, schools, corporations, and local organizations sharing his unique experiences of 9/11 and his career. and a First Place award in Feature Photography from the New Jersey chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (NJ-SPJ).

Franklin is an associate professor in the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University.

9/11 photos Franklin rose to national acclaim for his coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York. His now iconic image of three firemen raising a flag above the rubble of the World Trade Center, taken hours after the attacks, is one of the most identifiable and powerful images in history. Life Magazine listed it as one of the "100 Photographs That Changed the World," and the photo is part of the permanent collection of the Library of Congress.

A Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002 for his photographs from 9/11,

In 2002, the United States Postal Service introduced the "Heroes" stamp, featuring the flag-raising photo. Proceeds from the stamp have raised over ten million dollars to help families and rescue workers of 9/11.

Also in 2002, an autographed original print signed by Franklin and the three firemen pictured in the photo sold for $89,625 at Christie's Auction House, with proceeds benefiting two 9/11 charities. The photo has also been instrumental in raising money for other charitable causes, including juvenile diabetes, autism, and cerebral palsy.