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Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 21:41 GMT 22:41 UK

Walter Cronkite was the BEST News Broadcaster in my MANY years of listening and watching the news. As for Borrow Obama stating he has lost a dear friend - that's not a true statement - he hardly knew him! I recall a John Snagg of the UK BBC being a very good news broadcaster - but not as good as Cronkite.

Terence Gaffney, Sunderland

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 21:05 GMT 22:05 UK

Walter Cronkite told the truth that often was an irritant to politicians who wanted to obfuscate the truth from the public. The purpose of a free press is to tell the truth irrespective of the power elite's wishes. Sadly and dangerously we today no longer have a media we can trust to tell the truth they have become grafted at the hip to government aims. Many of today's journalists are no journalists at all they are ideologue propagandists like FOX News. We live in an age of uncontested lies.

Orwell's Prediction, Chicago

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 20:34 GMT 21:34 UK

I am 57 and I grew up in a home where CBS news was on every night. I have 2 very vivid memories of Walter Cronkite: The first was at the age of 12 on Nov 22, 1963 when I saw him confirm President Kennedy was dead and I could see how hard we was trying not to break down even though his voice cracked. and the second was 40 years ago at age 17 when he narrated the first moon landing and he had this proud smile that we all Americans felt after beating the Soviets . His smile was our pride.

Jay Morgenthal, Brewster , Ntw York, USA

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 20:04 GMT 21:04 UK

When Mr. Cronkite signed off, there was a feeling that you got what you needed to know. His closing was his signature. 'And that is the way it is'. What could be more reassuring?

Stephen, Hooksett

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 20:02 GMT 21:02 UK

What were WC's journalistic views on the American public hiding under their school desks in fear of a nuclear 'attack' from the Soviets?

What were his views on McCarthyism?

I'll remember the JFK news as he broadcast it in the same way as Brian Williams broadcasting the death of Princess Diana.

Good Night & Good Luck, now who was that?

Diana Atkin, Canada

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 19:22 GMT 20:22 UK

All I remember of this man is his televised commentary when Kennedy was assassinated.

I'm sure he was loved and respected in the USA, but what's the point of discussing him here in the UK?

milvusvestal, Ramsey

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 14:24 GMT 15:24 UK

News readers are irrelevant, especially in the era of electronic news portals. What matters is a news gathering process and verification methods used, as well as technical wherewithal.

Many people don't realize that even in Cronkite's time, so called 'anchors' were simply front men for scores of anonymous professionals who determined the coverage, detailed correspondents& reporters and edited what was finally shown and read from teleprompters by trustworthy looking/sounding few.

Mirek Kondracki

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 14:21 GMT 15:21 UK

It's little wonder that the liberal, elite media is in rapture over Walter Cronkite. He was the first leftwing agenda-driver "reporter" whose "coverage" of the Viet Nam War did more to consign that country to Communist tyranny than the Viet Cong. His absurd characterisation of the Tet Offensive as a defeat for the US has no basis in fact and like today's "reporting" was merely editorialising. His nightly newscasts with their drumbeat of defeatism was one of the worst memories of that time.

P Kohler

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 13:41 GMT 14:41 UK

Walter Cronkite set the "standard" for today's "journalists" alright. He started the trend for "journalists" to twist the news in order to influence public opinion to fit their own personal bias & agenda. Instead of receiving the facts of what happened, we now are fed nothing but propaganda that barely resembles the true facts. Now, we have to read & view the "news" from the full spectrum of political belief from the BBC to Fox in order to try and discern the truth of an event.

David Zimlin, Dunedin, Florida, United States

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 13:13 GMT 14:13 UK

In an era where common sense and civility sometime seem to be lacking, Mr. Cronkite will be remembered as a man who possessed both these attributes. He truly earned the respect which has poured in not only from his peers but from his vast global audience.

Karen terrakarena, Canada

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 12:15 GMT 13:15 UK

Sorry but never heard of him ! Once again a American "Icon " dies and the whole world is supposed to pay homage!! He was a news reader was he ??
-keith ridgers, cobham, United Kingdom

Right. From now on, if a famous person dies, the BBC should check to see if Keith Ridgers has heard of him before allowing others to pay homage.

Evan S, Cleveland, United States

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 09:38 GMT 10:38 UK

No disrespect, but I've often wondered if the trust people had in him had anything to do with his looking so much like Captain Kangaroo.

Brandon Fox, Worcester, United States

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 07:38 GMT 08:38 UK

sadly he was one of the only true journalist out there, we will miss u, and hopefully we can have someone raise to the lvl of journalism that he has.

[mikalish], quincy, United States

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 07:36 GMT 08:36 UK

a great guy, and true journalist, will miss him

[mikalish], quincy, United States

Added: Sunday, 19 July, 2009, 07:36 GMT 08:36 UK

I grew up listening to Walter Cronkite present the evening news. His voice and his bearing inspired trust, one literally felt as though a favorite uncle were coming over to fill us in on the events of the day.

No American television journalist since Cronkite has inspired the degree of trust that "Uncle Walter" did and its doubtful that any will again. He was a product of a simpler time when making a profit was secondary to the goal of presenting the news accurately and professionally.

Scott W, Port Orchard, USA