Jaxon Van Derbeken is an award-winning reporter for NBC Bay Area, with a focus on public safety and enterprise reporting. He joined NBC Bay Area in March of 2016.
Prior to joining NBC Bay Area, he reported for the San Francisco Chronicle for nearly 20 years, leading the paper’s investigative and public safety efforts. Among other high profile stories, he has covered the O.J. Simpson case, the Rodney King beating, the Los Angeles riots, Fajitagate and the dog mauling death of Diane Whipple.
Jaxon also spearheaded the Chronicle’s coverage of the San Bruno Pipeline Explosion, for which he was awarded Journalist of the Year by the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Most recently he reported on the ongoing problems with the new span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge uncovering major infrastructure flaws with the bridge’s construction.
Before joining the San Francisco Chronicle, Jaxon reported on law enforcement for the Los Angeles Daily News where his coverage of the LAPD during the Rodney King beating was recognized by the American Civil Liberties Union. He went on to do extensive interviews and research for the book "Official Negligence," by former Washington Post reporter Lou Cannon about the LAPD, the beating and ensuing riots.
Jaxon has been recognized for his work by several news organizations including the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Awards, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Associated Press.
He received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.
Follow Jaxon on Instagram @jaxonvanderbeken and X @jvanderbeken.
The Latest
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A closer look: BART's paddle problem
A piece of metal (paddle) broke off one of the local BART trains and crashed through a headlight of a passing car. NBC Bay Area’s Jaxon Van Derbeken reports.
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PG&E warns 25,000 would-be customers of potential six-month delays in getting electricity
In a letter sent to potential customers the utility ackowledges the delays could pose a hardship to customers who hoped to be hooked up next year.
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Will SF buyout PG&E and operate its own power company?
The city is offering $3.4 billion to buy PG&E, with the utility company making a counteroffer at $20 billion. Jaxon Van Derbeken reports.
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Testimony begins in Sheng Thao corruption trial
Federal prosecutors have indicted Thao on charges of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud, along with Andre Jones and David and Andy Duong.
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San Francisco ag-tech entrepreneur's death tied to rusting wire that had supported PG&E power line
State energy infrastructure safety officials – in charge of overseeing utilities compliance with Wildfire Safety Plans – recently told PG&E and other utilities to assess the fire risk associated with so-called tie wires.
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A closer look: Deadly Marin County shooting
Investigative Reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken joins Raj Mathai to discuss the latest on a suspected double murder-suicide in Marin County.
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Marin County Sheriff's Department identifies suspected gunman in alleged double murder, suicide
Former SFPD Dep. Chief among 3 dead in shooting
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Retired SFPD deputy chief, daughter killed in Marin County double murder-suicide
Authorities say a retired SFPD sergeant shot and killed his estranged wife and their adult daughter before taking his own life near Mill Valley.
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PG&E seeks to scale back 10,000-mile powerline undergrounding plan
The revised plan submitted to state regulators earlier this month calls for burying 5,000 more miles of power lines in high fire risk areas by 2037.
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San Francisco fire station shakeup ordered after ‘derogatory' poster found
The poster was found pinned to the wall last month at Fire Station No. 8 on Bluxome Street, according to multiple department sources with knowledge of the incident.
