The Express & Star and the Shropshire Star will increase in size from 40 pages to 80 pages per edition under the new designs, which will be launched on Saturday April 20.
Two journalists have been appointed to form the editorial team responsible for delivering the increased news, sport and entertainment content across the group.
The Saturday same-day publications will be rebranded as the Weekend edition, including a pull out supplement which will offer a full weekly TV guide, local entertainment and lifestyle coverage, new columnists plus several pages of puzzles.
Managing director Phil Inman said: “The new Weekend editions of the Shropshire Star and Express & Star will see a significant increase in pagination.
“The MNA is investing in the Saturday editions to deliver even better newspapers to the hundreds of thousands of readers who take time to enjoy our titles each weekend.
“Focus group research has shown an overwhelmingly positive response to the early dummy editions, which included more local news, more local sport and increased entertainment coverage for the region.
“We firmly believe we have a product to be proud of. We have made a substantial five figure investment in a comprehensive communications campaign to promote the bigger and better Weekend editions.”
A major promotional campaign has been launched, with 25 billboard adverts going up around the West Midlands and Shropshire.
The MNA worked with communications partner agency Wyatt International to develop the ads, based around the message The Weekend Has Landed.
A sales promotion campaign has also been launched to allow existing subscribers to sample the new edition at no extra cost, backed by promotional point of sale material carrying the new message.
