News Corp is Transnational Organized Crime

The Obama Administration just declared war on "Transnational Organized Crime" (TOC). As emptywheel notes in passing, News Corp fits the definition to a "t".

Transnational organized crime refers to those self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purpose of obtaining power, influence, monetary and/or commercial gains, wholly or in part by illegal means, while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption and/or violence, or while protecting their illegal activities through a transnational organizational structure and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms. There is no single structure under which transnational organized criminals operate; they vary from hierarchies to clans, networks, and cells, and may evolve to other structures. The crimes they commit also vary.

Let's explain how News Corp fits the definition, item by item:

Transnational organized criminals act conspiratorially in their criminal activities and possess certain characteristics which may include, but are not limited to:

In at least part of their activities they commit violence or other acts which are likely to intimidate, or make actual or implicit threats to do so;

Intimidation is a common theme that runs through all reporting on how News Corp treats those who oppose them, whether employees (Keith Olbermann, Robert Emmel), competitors (Floographics, Valassis, Insignia), or government officials (Barack Obama, Gordon Brown). 

They routinely use naked threats, blackmail, and character assassination. They may not resort to outright physical violence, but they enthusastically use their economic and media power to comparable effect. And they encourage their unhinged followers to peform the kinds of violent acts they cannot.

They exploit differences between countries to further their objectives, enriching their organization, expanding its power, and/or avoiding detection/apprehension;

News Corp tailors its methods to each country it operates in. In Britain, they bribe cops, hack phones, and pay hush money. In the US, they buy up competitors and fill the airwaves with lies. In China, they protect and serve the Communist Party.

They attempt to gain influence in government, politics, and commerce through corrupt as well as legitimate means;

Rupert Murdoch pretty much owns the governments of Australia, Great Britain, and even the U.S. It was that near-ownership that certainly encouraged - and may have forced - the three governments to invade Iraq in defiance of international law, with disastrous human and economic consequences.

They have economic gain as their primary goal, not only from patently illegal activities but also from investment in legitimate businesses; 

Murdoch is certainly in it for the money, and is one of the world's richest men.

They attempt to insulate both their leadership and membership from detection, sanction, and/or prosecution through their organizational structure.

For eight long years, News Corp covered up its British police bribery and voicemail hacking through its "organizational structure." First they blamed a single reporter, with News International chairman Les Hinton assuring Parliament in 2007 and 2009 he had conducted a thorough investigation. Of course Hinton had investigated nothing, and when the truth finally came out, he was forced out - along with all the executives he protected.

Now James Murdoch, Rupert's heir-apparent, faces intense scrutiny and possible prosecution for paying hush money to British hacking victims to cover up the extend of the hacking scandal. If his role is fully revealed, Rupert's own role in the crimes and coverups will come under scrutiny.