(Credit: Flickr, "Pete Prodoehl," screenshot)

Three former News of the World journalists pleaded guilty to phone hacking.

The three who “admitted conspiracy to hack phones” are Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup and Greg Miskiw, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported: “Their guilty pleas, which had not previously been reportable, were the first admissions by former staff from the tabloid since police relaunched their inquiry in 2011.”

A trial related to the phone hacking scandal opened this week against eight defendants, including former News International CEO Rebekah Brooks, as iMediaEthics has written.

Hat Tip: Politico