News Limited has kicked off its seven-day newsroom concept for metropolitan dailies in South Australia.

Adelaide’s ‘The Advertiser’ and the ‘Sunday Mail’ will be the first News metros to move to the new model.

‘Advertiser’ editor Melvin Mansell takes on a new role as state editorial director director for SA, WA and NT. He will provide strategic guidance and be responsible for overall quality control of editorial content, allowing each paper’s editor to concentrate on local stories.

Sam Weir, editor of the Perth ‘Sunday Times’, moves to the editor’s chair in Adelaide, while he will be replaced by Christopher Dore, a deputy editor of the ‘Sunday Telegraph’, and columnist Claire Harvey fills that role.

Reporters on the ‘Advertiser’ and ‘Sunday Mail’ will work across both titles on a shift rotation under the new arrangement.

News Limited chief executive Kim Williams – who has received a visit in recent weeks from News Corporation chief operating officer Chase Carey – says the new roles will prepare the company for challenges ahead in print and digital: “Our focus must be on delivering the highest quality journalism that connects and engages with our consumers across all platforms,” he says. “They herald the wider transformation ahead for our business.”

During his visit to Australia, Carey spoke of the importance of news content in the group’s operations: “We truly believe that quality news is a great business,” he says.