If the president wants positive coverage he's going to have to be a positive role model not some tweeter from the sewer.
No, with all due respect (and that is great) you fail to understand, Chatelaine! There is NOTHING, save a complete capitulation to leftist policy that would obtain positive coverage from 95% of the mass media.
Though his manner could be more grandfatherly with some positive effect (RWR) he also rejects the narrative that he must be "nicer". He clearly sees his role as "Kali, destroyer of worlds" not an arbiter.
See, 'Crat fundraising is waaaaaay down. That is apparently one of the side-effects of the left's concentration on the sturm-unt-drang of the never-ended campaign against Trump.
As disagreeable as his abrasive, surly, aggressive demeanor is to many, as a political strategery (sic) it has had more net positives than negatives so far.
The most recent relaxation of regulatory pressure on business and a rip-roaring financial sector (set to take off even more with tax reform in the pipeline) is going to produce more employment and tax revenue, which will boost his popularity in many sectors - particularly those who can't find good jobs who want them (many millions of voters).
Blacks voted for Trump in higher numbers than any previous GOP candidate. One of the reasons is that Trump seems "real" IOW, unafraid to offend people if he believes he's right.
Try to think of words as munitions, not primarily tools of communication and you may start to understand how things look from the Trump team's POV.
Often when DJT engages in aggressive exchanges, he comes out looking like the more-honest one in many cases.
Voters like strong presidents, even if they are somewhat unpleasant. As long as they stay mostly positive and get things done.