As you’re going to Iran, you can do a little field work for us, yes? 
(also, bring us pictures!)
I assume the choices come through satellite, which became popular across the region in the 1980s. The rise of satellites in the region (ME/Iran) allowed for more access to other media outlets and could be said to helped force localized changes in terms of liberalization. Just from the wikipedia page, in Iran it looks like a patchwork of private and public company. And yes it’s a republic and I’m fully aware that they vote. I’m also aware that people do and have gone to prison in Iran and that there exists an Iranian diaspora in the wake of the revolution that was eventually coopted by the religious conservatives. The socialists, liberals, and secularists were certainly at times victims of the regime, even as elements of their programs were adopted in various ways.
I think it’s good to note there that TV (and media in general) have been part and parcel of building modern national identities in a number of places (not just the ME and Iran). I’m fairly certain I remember Abu-Lughod discussing the role that satellite played in changing people’s self-conceputualizations of themselves as Egyptians towards the end of this book (which is very good). And, yes I’m well aware that Iran and Egypt are not the same, but there are parallels that can be drawn, I think.
But that’s less to do with jobs related to the media, especially the state run media where this woman works. I think that consuming vs. producing media (especially state media) are related but different phenomenon. But yes, it looks like she had other media options. Fair enough.
