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
Philly councilwoman fined for campaign finance violations
A Philadelphia councilwoman and her campaign are being fined nearly $10,000 after violating the city ethics code. Councilwoman Blo ...
10 years ago
Listen
Philly lawmaker calls on House colleagues to return for budget work
A Pennsylvania lawmaker said it’s time to get back to the bargaining table and come up with a budget that better adheres to the fra ...
10 years ago
Listen
Philadelphia Eagle Connor Barwin lends a hand funding South Philly playground makeover
A Philadelphia Eagle is helping a South Philadelphia playground get a professional-quality playing field. Linebacker Connor ...
10 years ago
ListenKenney looking outside Philly to fill key positions
The soon-to-be Kenney administration is looking out of town for some new key city leaders. Philadelphia Mayor-elect Jim Kenn ...
10 years ago
Listen
Philadelphia hotels set occupancy record for 2015
Philadelphia had a record number of hotel rooms sold in 2015. Even with a major visitor removed from the equation, it still w ...
10 years ago
Listen
New report finds problems with demolition process in Philadelphia
A new report finds no criminal wrongdoing at Philadelphia’s department of Licenses and Inspections when it comes to demolitions ...
10 years ago
Listen
Nutter revises city policy on immigrants suspected of serious crimes
Philadelphia will cooperate more closely with federal immigration officials following Mayor Michael Nutter’s signing a new executiv ...
10 years ago
Listen
Nutter signs 15-year Comcast franchise agreement
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has inked a new 15-year franchise agreement with Comcast. It’s being touted as a national m ...
10 years ago
Listen
As warm spell causes natural gas consumption to lag, PGW taps customers to cover costs
The warm weather is causing residents and businesses to cut back on the use of natural gas to heat homes and facilities. That is u ...
10 years ago
Listen
Mayor signs executive order banning prison rape in Philadelphia
Philadelphia now officially has a “zero tolerance” policy about sexual assault in city prisons. Mayor Michael N ...
10 years ago
Listen
Pope mentions retirement, but Chaput expects him to be around ‘a long time’
Pope Francis turned 79 this week and even chatted with one reporter about retiring in a few years. But one Catholic official said ...
10 years ago
Listen
Former Philly sheriff could go to jail in fraud scheme
Former Philadelphia Sheriff John Green has pleaded not guilty to fraud and corruption charges. Green was brought in handcuf ...
10 years ago
Listen