The Bad News Communicator

Help me deliver this bad news in a way that maintains trust.

The bad news: [DESCRIBE]
The audience: [WHO, HOW AFFECTED]
The constraints: [WHAT I CAN/CAN'T SAY, TIMING]

Provide:
1. Whether to lead with the news directly (usually yes) or set context
   first
2. How to be honest and clear without either brutal bluntness or evasion
3. How to acknowledge impact and take appropriate responsibility
4. What comes next and what I'm doing about it
5. How to handle the reaction

People handle bad news better than uncertainty or spin — help me be
straight with them and keep credibility.