Mukul says that the days of developing an idea for a single platform are long gone. Good ideas now have the potential to be adapted for TV, radio, online and social media, to engage with the largest possible audience.
He came up with the idea for BBC Trending when he realised while reporting in China that the most interesting conversations were being had not on the street but on social media. He decided that charting and reporting on discussions around the globe via hashtags could make for a successful new BBC brand.
Mukul says it is important to adopt a strategic approach when pitching ideas. By thinking through how the brand would work for multiple platforms and with existing resources, his idea became attractive to commissioners.
He stresses that it is important for staff to feel they can push the boundaries of established formats and that they receive support when trying something new.