Surely it was a done-deal before News Corp even launched its bid for Dow Jones.

Even so, it was stunning to watch former FTer Nick Denton make a now-obvious prediction, and then systematically help marginalize the internal candidates one-by-one, accelerating the Anglo-Australianization of one of the pillars of America's relatively conservative concept of journalism.

In the end, News Corp did the merciful thing. It appointed the guy who would "manage" the new ME -- Robert Thomson -- as the new ME himself.

It was hardly shocking. Thomson is an ambitious, whip-smart newsman with a strong business news background and Murdoch's trust. Apparently, nobody else on Monster.com seemed to have that same combination.

In fact, Publisher Thomson himself told all of us two weeks ago who would get the job. The NYO's John Koblin reported Thomson's prediction.

But perhaps most important: "There will be a new managing editor in weeks, not months," he told reporters and editors at several meetings.

The new managing editor, he said, should be a sort of Renaissance man--someone who is well respected by the staff, and has a strong background in international coverage.

Well, why not!

Why not, indeed.

And thus, Jack Flack parses the News Corp statement to ensure full clarity.

News Corp: Robert Thomson has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Dow Jones and managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, effective immediately...

Translation: We've decided to eliminate the middle-man, passing the savings on to you.

News Corp: ...Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of Dow Jones & company, announced.

Translation: This is not a subsidiary. This is an obsession. This is a personal legacy.

News Corp: The Dow Jones Special Committee today unanimously endorsed Mr. Thomson's appointment following his nomination by the Company last week.

Translation: They were just relieved it wasn't the kid from the Telegraph.

News Corp: Mr. Murdoch said: "Mr. Thomson's outstanding career as a financial journalist, foreign correspondent and editor, equips him perfectly for the position."

Translation: Mr. Murdoch said, "He is my perfect creation. Perfect."

News Corp: Les Hinton, Chief Executive Officer of Dow Jones, said: "Robert is the ideal editor to unlock the vast potential of the Wall Street Journal and our other Dow Jones brands, both in this country and around the world."

Translation: With Robert in place, I can focus on global distribution. When can we take the words "Wall Street" out of the title?

News Corp: Mr. Thomson will oversee the news section of the Wall Street Journal and the editorial operations of Dow Jones News Wires. Neal Lipschutz, News Wires managing editor, will report to Mr. Thomson. Paul Gigot, Editorial Page Editor of the Journal, will report to Mr. Hinton, who will assume Mr. Thomson's role as Publisher of the Wall Street Journal in addition to his existing duties.

Translation: Mr. Thomson will oversee the section that people actually pay to read.... though Ms. Noonan will report to anybody she wants, as long as Hilary stays in the race.

News Corp: Robert Thomson was appointed Publisher of Dow Jones in December 2007, having been Editor of The Times of London since March 2002. Prior to that he was Managing Editor of the US Edition of the Financial Times, taking responsibility for the FT's ambitious drive into America, where the newspaper trebled its sales to almost 150,000 during his four-year tenure. For his work in developing the FT, in print and online, he was named US Business Journalist of the Year in 2001.

Translation: We're starting to understand that global business is where the money is, not stealing 100,000 NYT subscribers by becoming USAT. Nobody has more motivation to beat the FT than Robert. He'll make them pay for giving the job to Gowers instead.

News Corp: From 1996 to 1998, he was Editor of the Weekend FT, orchestrating a successful redesign of that paper, which became the fastest-growing newspaper in the UK market during 1997.

Translation: It's the weekend section. Weekend. Opera. Art. Books. Footie. Telly. Robert Thomson is the Renaissance man that, uh, Robert Thomson was looking for.

News Corp: He has served as a correspondent in Beijing and Tokyo, and began his career as a copy boy at The Herald, Melbourne, in 1979.

Translation: And you can check that international-coverage box, too. It's uncanny how Robert Thomson fits the demanding criteria established by Robert Thomson.

News Corp: Mr. Thomson's appointment follows the resignation as managing editor of Marcus Brauchli.

Translation: We still find it cute that staffers think he should have "taken a stand." It would have lasted an entire news cycle.

News Corp: Mr. Brauchli resigned after a meeting with Dow Jones executives.

Translation: It was just as much fun as Fredo's boat-ride.

News Corp: Referring to the circumstances of Mr. Brauchli's resignation, Mr. Hinton said: "The Company believes it was acting in accordance with the agreement and had no intention of subverting the role of the Special Committee.

Translation: Forgiveness is so much more efficient than permission.

News Corp: In hindsight, we recognize it would have more been appropriate to have advised the Committee in advance of reaching an agreement with Mr. Brauchli.

Translation: In hindsight, we didn't realize how humiliating it would be for the committee. Even Negroponte is worried this will become full-blown section in his Wiki bio.

News Corp: We have apologized to the Committee members and undertaken that in future we will consult with it and seek approval of the Committee before taking any action with respect to an editor that could result in a material change in an editor's duties, responsibilities or reporting relationships or the departure of that editor.

Translation: Should Mr. Thompson suddenly get rebellious and need to be replaced, we will seek full consultation with the Committee.

News Corp: Source: News Corp.

Translation: My friends call me Rupe.

UPDATE: Parsing the Dow Jones Special Committee