Should News of the World's editor resign over voicemail hacking?

By CBC News

News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch with Rebekah Brooks, Chief Executive of News International, in London. Murdoch says Brooks is his number one priority. (Olivia Harris/Reuters)UPDATED: Sun., July 10

On the day the last issue of the News of the World is published, News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch is seen leaving his London home with his arm around Rebekah Brooks. He tells a Reuters reporter than Brooks is first priority. 

UPDATED: Thurs., July 7

News of the World will cease publication Sunday, News International CEO James Murdoch announced Thursday.

Murdoch also said he's satisfied that embattled executive Rebekah Brooks had no knowledge of phone hacking while she was editor of the scandal-ridden newspaper, The Associated Press reports.

Originally posted: Tues., July 5

A murder case from 2002 is in the headlines once more, as word emerges that British tabloid News of the World hacked into a missing girl's mobile phone in order to track a story.

When 13-year-old Surrey girl Milly Dowler disappeared in March 2002, News of the World journalists hired private investigators to help them illegally obtain unlisted phone numbers, including the number for Dowler's home phone, The Guardian reports.

After obtaining the private phone numbers, News of the World journalists reportedly hacked directly into the voicemail of Milly Dowler's own phone - eavesdropping on messages, recording conversations and even going as far as deleting old messages once Milly's voicemail box was full.

This last action not only served to confuse the police investigation, it also created false hope for the Dowler family, who interpreted the voicemail activity as a sign their daughter was still alive.

Scotland Yard is currently investigating News of the World's actions during the case, as well as those of the then-editor of the paper, Rebekah Brooks. Some have speculated Brooks will be asked to resign from her position as executive of News International amidst the outcry over the hacking incident.

Do you think Rebekah Brooks should resign? Why or why not? Is there ever a situation when it would be acceptable for a journalist to hack into voicemail? Let us know in the comments field below.