WHYY reporter Tom MacDonald is a lifelong Philadelphia-area resident who has worked in the region since the mid-1980s. Tom started in commercial radio covering the MOVE standoff with police for WFIL-AM. He was also City Hall Bureau Chief, covering government and politics for more than a decade, for WWDB-FM.
Tom has been heard on numerous stations in the region during the decade he worked for Metro Traffic, doing news, traffic, and weather.
Tom has also been heard nationally, filing reports for NPR, ABC News Radio, NBC Radio, and CBS Radio.
He has won the Associated Press award for his coverage of the protests of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and a Religious Communicators award for a post-9/11 documentary he did with the late Peter Jennings.
More from the Contributor
Philadelphia leaders press state officials to step up education funding during visit to Harrisburg
Philly leaders hope to use the city’s recent education funding wins as an example to convince Harrisburg Republicans to supplement all state schools.
1 week ago
Douglass Greene and Evans called out acts of the current Trump administration and Supreme Court, while discussing the lasting impact of slavery in the United States.
2 weeks ago
PPA says 181 tickets were canceled after being issued in error to residents with valid parking permits.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:03
Ward election in Philly under protest after questionable voice vote
This week’s vote is being appealed to the Democratic City Committee after Councilmember Cindy Bass approved a voice vote in her own favor.
3 weeks ago
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker signs $7.1B budget into law following City Council approval
After weeks of debate, City Council approved the budget without Mayor Parker's proposed taxes on ride-share and short-term rentals.
3 weeks ago
Listen 1:12
SEPTA board approves budget and bus route changes
In the works for years, the changes are designed to streamline service and will cause some people to make multiple route changes to replace what was once a one-vehicle ride.
1 month ago
Listen 1:05
3 men released after a nearly 30-year-old conviction is overturned in Philadelphia
District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office has been reviewing old cases, and several have been overturned.
1 month ago
Listen 1:07
Krasner calls for head of Philadelphia Democratic Party to resign
The progressive district attorney posted a video to X saying the Democratic Party would suffer if Bob Brady doesn’t call it quits.
1 month ago
Philly DA, city commissioners team up for election-security task force
The biannual event will feature county detectives and assistant district attorneys fielding calls about Election Day issues.
2 months ago
New scholarship for critical Philadelphia worker families funded at Temple University
The $10,000 annual scholarship will help with children of Philadelphia police, firefighters and SEPTA police.
2 months ago
Listen 1:14
Philadelphia officials question city’s lack of power over driverless cars
City Council members warned that autonomous vehicles could threaten jobs, raise safety concerns and operate beyond Philadelphia’s regulatory control.
2 months ago
Listen 1:04
Northeast Philly drug investigation uncovers gun making operation, police say
Working on a tip, police say they raided two homes, finding cash, drugs and an alleged gun manufacturing operation with dozens of working and disassembled weapons.
2 months ago