I know that you were speaking tongue-in-cheek (be careful, or you'll stretch that cheek permanently), but I think Walter Cronkite probably won't be mourned the same way that people all over the world are mourning for Jackson.  While Cronkite was "a giant, a gifted genius who's legacay will live on", I doubt that anyone in China gives two hoots about him.  But I imagine that a lot of Chinese give several hoots about Jackson.

Credibility certainly is a matter of perspective.  But we're in the midst of this battle between substance and frivolity.  Let history be our judge.