The role of the media (Pluto not A Planet)

The story was quickly picked up by the media and incorrectly reported that the IAU was voting on whether to demote Pluto from its planet status.
A story in BBC News Online reported in early 1999: “In just a few weeks time tiny Pluto will regain its crown as the most distant planet orbiting the Sun. Soon afterwards however it may lose its planetary status forever. . .
Depending upon an email vote among astronomers our solar system may soon have eight instead of nine
planets as all the textbooks say.”

USA Today ran an article stating: “The solar system is being downsized, and Pluto could get the pink
slip.”

Similar reports appeared in the Boston Globe and many other major American newspapers.

The internet was alive with debate (though rather one sided really), with many web pages showing their outrage over the proposed demotion of Pluto. “Save Pluto” websites sprung up all around the globe, and school children sent pleading letters to astronomers and the IAU.