From East Coast business practices to Silicon Valley technology, European publishers have long looked to the US as a source of inspiration. But now, as media companies everywhere are seeking different ways to adapt to the new digital era, some European firms are coming up with smart solutions, which American news organisations could well learn from.

This is the argument made by media analyst Ken Doctor in a series of articles for Nieman Lab. Doctor, who is the author of Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get, highlights examples of media companies that are thriving in Europe, including Schibsted in Norway, which has diversified into digital services and online classifieds, Gossweiler Media in Switzerland, which has created a successful community news model, and Sanoma in Finland, which has successfully persuaded print readers to pay more for digital access.