Mr Miller said in a statement that Mr Weir was one of the country's "most experienced editors" who had spent his career at Rupert Murdoch's News Corp since starting out as a cadet in Adelaide.

"We are delighted he has agreed to take on the editorship of the Herald Sun, Australia's largest-selling daily newspaper and we wish him every success," Mr Miller said.

Mr Weir has been strident in his editing of the courier mail and was previously editor of Perth's The Sunday Times, where he helped grow the Perth Now website, and Adelaide's The Advertiser.

The Herald Sun won accolades as the Daily News Title of The Year and overall News Brand of The Year at the 2019 News Media Awards in September under Mr Johnston's leadership.

Mr Johnston went to New York for News Corp news publications in 2000, covering the September 11 terrorist attacks as a journalist, and spent time beforehand as a chief political reporter for the Herald Sun.