News media weren't responsible for the federal government's slow response to Hurricane Katrina's devastation on the Gulf Coast.

Federal Emergency Management Agency director Mike Brown, in the aftermath of submitting his resignation Monday, was therefore off-base in suggesting that his action was in the best interest of getting the media "focused on the good things that are going on (in the hurricane response), instead of me."

The media have been focusing on plenty of the good that has occurred on many fronts in the days since the hurricane came ashore with Category 4 strength. But they have an obligation to inform Americans about the failings of the recovery effort as well, and there were many.

Brown clearly was responsible for some of the Bush administration's embarrassment over the slow pace at which the recovery geared up, and it was right for him to be recalled to Washington and, presumably, be given the option to leave the administration, rather than work under the cloud of little or no confidence hovering over him.

Granted, state and local officials in the affected Gulf region didn't merit high marks for their response to the tragedy either. However, a top-level official like Brown was expected to rise above others and lead the way. Instead, Brown proved to be a failure to millions of people.

Meanwhile, people shouldn't put too much stock in other officials' statements that Brown had been planning on leaving the administration in late fall. Had he lived up to his responsibility in dealing with Katrina, it is likely he would have been encouraged by President George W. Bush to remain in his position - and the odds are that he would have stayed.

But based on his Katrina performance, no one should lament Brown's departure. He was slow to respond to the seriousness of the situation - not the media.