Lulu Hassan: Phone Call That Helped Me Rise From Receptionist to Star Anchor

Citizen TV's news anchor Lulu Hassan
Citizen TV's news anchor Lulu Hassan
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Citizen TV anchor and producer Lulu Hassan, recalled how she rose from a receptionist to a top anchor in the country.

Lulu, while speaking during an interview on Hot96, disclosed that an encounter with a random person on the phone inspired her to actively pursue her media career.

The anchor worked as a receptionist for a Tech company in Mombasa when a man who she only identified as Anthony called the office seeking help.

After the call, the man mentioned that her voice was well suited for a career in media broadcast. This sparked her interest and pushed her to try a hand in journalism. 

Citizen TV anchor Lulu Hassan on August 23, 2020.
Citizen TV anchor Lulu Hassan on August 23, 2020.
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Lulu Hassan

“It started in 2005, I was a receptionist in the company that dealt with computers. Anthony whom I’ve never met but I remember to date, love my voice and asked if I had ever thought of working in the radio or TV,” she recalled.

Lulu started carrying newspapers from the office and took them home to practice and polish her pronunciation and diction. She purposed to train herself before securing a college slot for further studies. 

From one of the newspapers, she spotted an advertisement for a local TV station that was recruiting news anchors.

“You know as a receptionist you are given newspapers to take to the boss. So in the evening when leaving the office I would carry them home and I used to read to my mother who encouraged. She reiterated that I had a very good voice and I could actually be on TV," Lulu stated. 

‘’I applied for the job that was advertised despite not studying journalism,” she added.

Citizen TV Anchor Lulu Hassan
Citizen TV Anchor Lulu Hassan
Twitter

The anchor landed a job at a local radio station and her mother continued to encourage her to pursue her dreams. She also went back to school while working and focused on making herself a brand. 

Her mother, who believed in her, passed on while she was working at the radio station and never got to see her transition to TV which made her a celebrated media personality.