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: Moss Landing Fire Update
It has been a year and half since the devastating battery fire and the site cleanup continues. NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken takes a deep dive.
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SF building inspector who saw high-rise window plunge issues violation notice
The window failure that sent shards of glass plunging from the 17th floor of a high-rise in San Francisco’s Financial District is being attributed to heat fluctuations, according to a violation notice issued by the city’s building inspection department.
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Glass from window falls onto 6th floor balcony of SF high rise
No one was injured when glass fell from the 17th floor a 24-story Financial District high-rise Wednesday afternoon to a 6th floor balcony below, San Francisco officials said.
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Drone's role in Dixie Fire may cost PG&E ratepayers
It may end up being the most expensive drone flight in California history.
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Coast Guard suspends search for 3 people after boat sinks in San Francisco Bay
U.S. Coast Guard crews have suspended a search late Wednesday for three people missing after a boat carrying 20 family members and friends as part of a memorial service capsized a day earlier in the cold, choppy waters of San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island, authorities said.
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PG&E agrees to $22 million penalty deal over 2022 Mosquito fire
Under a deal struck with state regulators, PG&E would pay $22 million in penalties for the Mosquito Fire in Placer County, without admitting any liability.
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SF Fire Commission considering $6 million settlement in firefighter retaliation suit
he San Francisco fire commission met in closed session Wednesday to consider a $6 million legal settlement with a former firefighter who accused top department brass of retaliating against him for pursuing criminal charges against a fellow firefighter in an off-duty attack.
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San Francisco supervisor has ‘lost confidence in PG&E' amid substation fire lapses
It’s been six months since a third of San Francisco went dark – as long as three days in some neighborhoods – but one city supervisor says he’s still waiting for answers.
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BART Transbay Tunnel mishaps tied to disabling of surge protection system
A root cause analysis of a string of smoky incidents and fires inside the Transbay Tube last year concluded that one likely contributing factor was BART’s failure to reactivate an electrical surge projection system that had been deactivated during seismic retrofit work in the underwater tunnel.
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SFFD top aide retires, repays firefighters' union
A top aide to the San Francisco fire chief has retired and repaid tens of thousands of dollars in disputed funds back to the firefighters’ union, where she served as treasurer before assuming her command staff position, NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit has learned.
