Check out the following headlines:
- Apple iPhone 5 and iPad mini event planned for September 12, iPhone 5 release date for September 21
- Apple To Hold New iPhone Event On September 12
- Apple to hold iPhone event on September 12th, mark your calendars
Now, read these:
- Apple expected to unveil next iPhone at September 12 event
- Apple Media Event All But Confirmed for September 12th, iPhone Launch Likely
- Sources: next iPhone likely to be unveiled on Wednesday, September 12th
See the difference?
The first batch of headlines make it seem like the rumored September 12 event is fact. While it may indeed be, reporting it as fact is a little incorrect (at best) and maybe even linkbait-y (at worst). Adding a simple question mark to a headline would have been a good idea for some of these sites.
Out of the six sites linked to above, I like MacRumors the best. “Apple Media Event All But Confirmed for September 12th, iPhone Launch Likely” seems pretty accurate, with guys like Jim Dalrymple confirming the rumors.
That said, until Apple sends out the invites, nothing about the September 12 date is really confirmed, and writers shouldn’t be reporting it as such.