It will now direct talks on the future of the company, a move that could mean an expedited deal with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. But here's the kicker: It was approved by the the four board members affiliated with the Bancrofts, the family that has voting control over DJ. Family members have been working with Murdoch - and each other - on a silly and meaningless proposal to safeguard the editorial independence of Dow Jones (and the WSJ), but there's no resolution in sight and the board might have felt that the deal - any deal - was slipping away. Whatever happened to the White Knight Ron Burkle? (LABO, WSJ)