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 social media: on Twitter @jvanderbeken and on Facebook.
The Latest
-
PG&E agrees to pay $7 million fine for 2022 fire
Pacific Gas & Electric has reviewed and now agreed to pay a $7 million regulatory fine for alleged safety lapses tied to the 2022 Edgewood Fire near Redwood City.
-
‘Abnormal condition' occurred on high voltage line before Midway Fire, PG&E says
PG&E has notified state regulators that Cal Fire investigators have seized the utility’s equipment as part of a probe of the Midway Fire.
-
Prosecutors charge San Francisco activist with 4 separate cold case killings
A Bayview Hunters Point community activist is facing four separate counts of murder in slayings spanning two decades, marking the biggest single cold case break in San Francisco Police Department history.
-
BART Green Line expected back up Tuesday after San Leandro station fire
BART crews will be working through Memorial Day weekend to re-establish service lost after explosions and fire caused damage to the San Leandro station.
-
PG&E told to pay back customers $43 million for retrofit mistake at Diablo Canyon nuclear plant
PG&E should have to pay a $43 million bill tied to a flawed fix at its aging Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, not customers, regulatory judges ruled.
-
Montara residents alarmed by fire threat from overgrown Caltrans land
Montara residents say a stretch of hillside land that Caltrans bought decades ago is overgrown and neglected that dozens of homes are at risk of fire.
-
Experts question pre-fire change to key Moss Landing safety system
A modification made before the recent Moss Landing battery storage plant fire may have compromised the effectiveness of the plant’s fire safety system, experts say.
-
Heavy metals found in dust miles from Moss Landing battery fire
New data collected by nearby residents after the Moss Landing battery fire shows heavy metals in surface dust miles from the scene.
-
Rule change allowed long-idled line now probed in Eaton fire to remain, despite risk
An obscure regulatory rule change two decades ago allowed utilities to keep up unused, potentially hazardous electrical systems — like the one now being investigated as sparking the Eaton fire.
-
Edison warned about wind monitoring before Eaton Fire
State fire safety officials have repeatedly warned Southern California Edison to improve weather tracking to help prevent wind-driven fire — but the utility maintained before the Eaton fire that its efforts met world standards.
