Textbook pg. 188

Test your Knowledge
1. What are the 5 main goals in delivering bad news?
To convey the bad news, to gain acceptance for it, to maintain as much goodwill as possible with your audience, to main a good image for your organization, if appropriate to reduce or eliminate the need for future correspondence on the matter

2. What questions should you ask yourself when choosing between the direct and indirect approaches?
(1) Will the news come as a shock? (2) Does the reader prefer short messages that get right to the point? (3) How important is the news to the reader? (4) Do you need to maintain a close working relationship with the reader? (5) Do you need to get the readers attention? (6) What is your organization's preferred style?

3. What is the sequence of elements in a negative message organized using the indirect approach?
Buffer-->Reasons-->Bad news-->Positive close

4. What is a buffer, and why do some critics consider it unethical?
Buffer: a neutral, noncontroversial statement that is closely related to the point of the message. Critics may consider a buffer unethical because it was insincere or deceptive

5. When is using the indirect approach to announce a negative decision, what is the purpose of presenting your reasons before explaining the decision itself? Guides your reader's responses by starting with the most positive points first and moving forward to increasingly negative ones. Convince your audience that your decision is justified, fair, and logical.

Apply your Knowledge
1. Why is it important to end negative messages on a positive note? Explain.
It will be the last thing the audience has to remember so why not make it positive. It gives you the opportunity to emphasize your respect for your audience, even though you have just delivered unpleasant news.

2. What challenges do social media present to today's companies when it comes to negative information?
Social media face the challenges of what things to and what things to not display in terms of you and the company. The wrong things could lose them business and the right things could gain more.

3. If the purpose of your letter is to convey bad news, should you take the time to suggest alternatives to your reader? Why or why not?
Yes, it may make the person feel less disappointed and still view the company positively. But if the relationship isn't it vital to the company you probably shouldn't spend time researching alternatives for that other person.

4. Why should a company always try to respond to all job applicants?
Failing to do so builds ill will and can harm your company's reputation.

5. Ethical Choices Is it intentionally deemphasizing bad news the same as distorting graphs and charts to deemphasize unfavorable data? Why or why not? No that would be abusing the notion of deemphasizing bad news.