Covering teachers strikes is one of the most challenging — and exciting — things that education reporters do. That’s why The Grade has spent so much time analyzing strike coverage and talking to reporters about the ins and outs of the experience.

In this new interview, veteran SF Chronicle education reporter Tucker describes what happened in last week’s San Francisco’s strike — and how she tries to get to the bottom of the real-world effects rather than focusing on the heated emotions that they generate.

“It is highly, highly emotional,” she says of the intensity around teachers strikes. Despite all the heated rhetoric, a good reporter is “trying to get at what is happening — what are the real issues — what is the real impact on families and students.”

Keeping focus on what matters most is no easy task — even if like Tucker you’ve been through several strikes and know what’s likely coming next.

Asked what her best piece of coverage was during the past strike, Tucker cites this set of questions and answers she published on Friday.

Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube). Listen on Spotify or Apple.

Previous strike coverage

So, how was the Newton teacher’s strike coverage?

Why the Newton strike is national

How to survive covering a teacher’s strike

Lessons from covering the Portland teacher’s strike

A more inclusive approach to covering school shutdowns

What really happened in Chicago?

Previous Jill Tucker

The closer

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