I agree with you on the impact of the media. At the same point in time in his presidency (September 14-16, 2007) with overwhelmingly negative mainstream media, George W. Bush was at 36% positive job approval and 62% negative.
With the most fawning liberal media in history, Obama is at 46% positive and 50% negative.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/presidential-approval-ratings-george-bush.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx
26% want more Obama. That is the bottom line.