More than ever, the mainstream media seems to be picking up on pre-MacWorld expo rumors, with a flurry of mini iPod articles...
Slashdot.org
ThisIsLondon.com (Evening Standard)
SFGate.com
CBS Marketwatch
Scotsman.com
CNet
While some claim more authority than others... the source of all these articles appears to be a common Reuters article published on December 24th, based on the usual rumor sites. As a result, these articles lend no more credance to the story than that of the Mac Rumor web.
"Original" sources of the rumor include:
Apple Turns, Page 2 MacRumors, Appleinsider, ThinkSecret, MacRumors