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
-
Woman found dead at San Francisco hotel identified as Tommy Lee Jones' daughter
The woman found dead in the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel has been identified as Victoria Jones, daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, the San Francisco Medical Examiner confirmed Friday.
-
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.
-
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.
-
PG&E seeks break on part of a $1 billion payment to wildfire bailout fund
Despite profits of more than $2 billion last year, PG&E recently told regulators that it is in such a financial bind that it needs more time to make a $1 billion payment.
-
PG&E becomes California's most expensive power provider
On Jan. 1, PG&E started charging 13% more for power. The rate hike – expected to cost an average family another $33 a month – will pay to bury power lines and other wildfire mitigation efforts. But it is likely to be just the beginning of the pain.
-
Millennium Tower residents complain of unpleasant byproduct of continued tilt
Two residents of the troubled Millennium Tower have complained to NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit about what they fear is the unpleasant byproduct of the continued tilting of the luxury high-rise — frequent drain backups.
-
Window Pane Blown Off From SF High-Rise Building Prompts Shelter-in-Place Order
A shelter-in-place order has been issued Tuesday afternoon in the area of 555 California Street due to glass falling from a high-rise building, San Francisco fire officials said.
-
Suspect in Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting Allegedly Said He Felt ‘Disrespected'
The accused Half Moon Bay gunman told investigators that he had been “disrespected” by coworkers in the years leading up to Monday’s shootings, two police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation tell NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit.
-
Northern California Mass Shooting Believed to Be Case of Workplace Violence: Sheriff
As authorities continue to investigate Monday’s mass shooting in Half Moon Bay that left seven people dead and one injured, officials on Tuesday said the massacre appears to be a case of workplace violence.
-
7 Dead, 1 Injured in Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting; Suspect in Custody
Seven people were killed in a mass shooting that spanned two separate scenes in Half Moon Bay Monday afternoon, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
