They are rebel military governors of a station that seceded from the earth government. The media in question is a part of a propaganda wing of an anti-democratic authoritarian government they are under blockade and misinformation campaign from.

By no means are they saints nor are they anything but military governors at this point. But in their defense the station was a military installation and they later go on to form a democratic government and cede control of the station back to it. So it’s definitely a show that has a stand up to those giving immoral and illegal orders vibe. Not saints, definitely military and wield it heavily sometimes. But overall the message is one of following the democratic process and respecting the freedom of the press.

The rest of the episode is centered around Sheridan allowing the freedom of the press and then getting burned in the end by the propaganda machine twisting everything that is said an seen to their own advantage. But still ends on the note that they were right to open up and right to believe in continuing to be open.