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
Kenney says legal pot should be sold in Pennsylvania liquor stores
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney says he knows how to make sure pot sold legally would benefit the city and Pennsylvania. Speak ...
9 years ago
Listen
Philly Council urges more appeal hearings, more lawyers to uphold commercial tax assessments
Two Philadelphia City Council members are urging city officials to take new commercial tax assessments more seriously. Curre ...
9 years ago
Listen
Philly tax collectors ‘smarter, tougher’ and more helpful
After years of struggling with its collections, Philadelphia’s Department of Revenue is becoming more efficient in gathering taxes. ...
9 years ago
Listen
Even after a week, signs of Philly’s NFL draft linger [updated]
Though it’s been more than a week since the last NFL draft pick was chosen in Philadelphia, the event’s stage and other trapp ...
9 years ago
Listen
Philly L&I: We have ‘over 200 imminently dangerous buildings’
The topic of dangerous buildings in Philadelphia took center stage during City Council Budget hearings on Monday. Licenses a ...
9 years ago
Listen
$50,000 to help Philly expand use of overdose remedy naloxone
A foundation is helping the city of Philadelphia with some potentially lifesaving medication. A $50,000 grant from the Tuttl ...
9 years ago
Listen
A hotel room in Philadelphia would cost more under a new council bill
Hotel stays in Philadelphia could cost more. A bill by City Councilman Derek Green is proposing a fee of about a $1.50 for hotel stays. & ...
9 years ago
Listen
Constituents sour on sweetened beverage tax confront councilman
Four months after its inception, Philadelphia’s tax on sweetened beverages continues to spur complaints. One Philadelphia cou ...
9 years ago
Listen
Philadelphia preparing to defend its sanctuary city status
Philadelphia’s City Solicitor said Philadelphia will fight back if it loses funds over its sanctuary city status. City ...
9 years ago
Listen
Philly DA a no-show at City Council budget hearing
It was the Philadelphia district attorney’s office to appear before City Council for a budget hearing Wednesday, but it was not the ...
9 years ago
Listen
Vandalism spurs calls for better management of growth in Philadelphia
Two incidents of vandalism have Philadelphia officials working harder on ways to ease tensions in rapidly developing neighborhoods. < ...
9 years ago
City Council again targets sales of liquor by the drink at corner shops
During budget hearings with members of the city’s health department, several members of Philadelphia City Council expressed their d ...
9 years ago
Listen