Viral WaPo photo of 'Gabrielle Giffords's handwritten testimony' actually written by her therapist

The handwritten notes Gabby Giffords used for her Senate testimony this morning http://t.co/1e5E4rCa pic.twitter.com/0zioBg23

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) January 30, 2013

Wow. Via the Atlantic: Gabby Giffords' handwritten notes for today's remarks. http://t.co/4sodDV6l

— Amma Marfo, but indoors. (@ammamarfo) January 30, 2013

If you see only one thing on the internet today… Gabby Giffords's Handwritten Notes for Her Testimony to the Senate: http://t.co/J4KrVp4r

— Nadja Popovich (@PopovichN) January 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/jimmyguterman/status/296695793077850114

https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/296702705748025347

From the Washington Post to The Atlantic to Buzzfeed to to Think Progress to Business Insider to veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, the touching photo of former Rep. Gabby Giffords’s “handwritten testimony” in favor of stricter gun control spread across social media like wildfire.

https://twitter.com/dodigahedron/status/296683382639833088

amazing RT @businessinsider: Gabby Gifford's Handwritten Notes From Her Dramatic Gun Control Speech Today http://t.co/KggMSWQn

— Jason Haber (@jasonhaber) January 30, 2013

As powerful as seeing her deliver it. Tears return MT @pourmecoffee: "Giffords's Handwritten Notes for Her Testimony" http://t.co/dSgyfT6b

— Patrick Dillon (@mpdillon) January 30, 2013

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https://twitter.com/camanpour/status/296697284186472448

Just one problem: It wasn’t her handwriting.

Who wrote it? RT @TheFix CORRECTION: This note was handwritten but not by Gabby Giffords. http://t.co/GIxWpNN9

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) January 30, 2013

@michellemalkin Her speech therapist. Hope you are well.

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) January 30, 2013

Here’s a screencap of the correction at the bottom of the Washington Post’s photo, which still maintains the headline depicted above:

Yes, even real journalists make mistakes. Some matter more materially than others. This one was not insignificant given the widespread emotional reaction it provoked and the bearing that has on the public police and political debate.

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Update:

Michelle Malkin points out how leftist media propagates falsehoods; Haters attack