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
As vertical farming takes root in Philly, City Council hears of economic potential
At a Philadelphia City Council hearing, discussions of vertical farming raised some hopes for the city economy as urban farmers grow prod ...
8 years ago
Listen
Philly moving to prevent warehouse fires like Oakland’s here
Philadelphia is working to make sure a devastating fire on the West Coast doesn’t happen here. In the wake of a weeken ...
8 years ago
Listen
Philadelphia Community College, city lending hand to small businesses
A new program supported by the city and Community College of Philadelphia is designed to help small businesses. Power Up Yo ...
8 years ago
Listen
Veterans to City Council: Brain injury treatment delays can’t continue
Philadelphia City Council held a hearing on how veterans with traumatic brain injuries are receiving care. Dr. Douglas Smith of th ...
8 years ago
Listen
Stalled portrait has one former Philly mayor dishing on another
Nearly nine years after he left office, there is still no portrait of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street hanging in the mayor’s ...
8 years ago
Kenney takes ‘wait and see’ approach to city lawyer accused of participating in hate speech
A Philadelphia city solicitor could be charged with spray-painting a store in Chestnut Hill with profanity criticizing the presiden ...
8 years ago
Listen
‘Women of City Council’ celebrate Philly’s new lead-poisoning protection measures
The “Women of City Council” are celebrating a victory in the fight to prevent lead poisoning. Philadelphia City Counci ...
8 years ago
Listen
Funding increase sought for Philly commission on disabled
Members of Philadelphia City Council are questioning the funding level for the city’s commission for disabilities. Cha ...
8 years ago
Listen
Summer jobs program getting a jump on signing up Philly employers
Summer may seem a long way off, but Philadelphia is recruiting employers now to provide summer jobs for teens. More than 10,000 yo ...
8 years ago
Listen
Retailers face increased risk of cyber-crime over the holidays
Theft during the holidays has moved to a new level. Instead of “buyer beware,” some are advising sellers to keep a sha ...
8 years ago
Listen
Philadelphia City Council panel OKs regulatons on medical marijuana locations
As Pennsylvania prepares to launch its medical marijuana program, a Philadelphia City Council committee has approved restrictions on wher ...
8 years ago
Listen
When tow truck drivers go rogue
Despite years of effort, the complaints about rogue tow truck drivers in Philadelphia are not dying down. City Council is co ...
8 years ago
Listen