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
Controller urges Philadelphia to get head out of — and data into — the cloud
Philadelphia’s controller says it’s time for the city to get its head out of the clouds and its data into t ...
11 years ago
ListenBuilder facing stiff penalties in wake of another construction site accident
A Philadelphia Contractor could lose his license over a serious accident at a building site in North Philadelphia. A brickla ...
11 years ago
ListenCouncilman pushing plan to stop new auto-related businesses in Southwest Philly
A measure to regulate the number of automobile-related businesses in Southwest Philadelphia has stalled in Philadelphia City Council. ...
11 years ago
ListenA former Philly Councilman looking for bucks from yucks
A former City Councilman is trying his hand at comedy. Former Councilman Rich Mariano says after spending time in jail for h ...
11 years ago
ListenPhilly measure would benefit new moms in the workplace
A Philadelphia official is calling for fairness when it comes to lactating mothers. City Councilman David Oh says a nursing ...
11 years ago
ListenPhilly council overrides Nutter’s veto on medical office zoning
Philadelphia City Council has overridden a veto by Mayor Michael Nutter on medical facility development in most of Northeast Philadelphia ...
11 years ago
ListenDining in Love Park — Indoors or out?
Love Park could have a dramatically different appearance if Philadelphia’s City Council President gets his way. Council Pres ...
11 years ago
ListenPhilly brokers deal to create land bank of vacant properties
A deal has been cut so Philadelphia can create a “land bank” to put vacant properties to good use. A land bank is desi ...
11 years ago
ListenPhilly fire equipment upkeep reviewed in City Council hearing
A fire in a medic unit at a Old City firehouse highlighted possible maintenance issues within the department according to officials at a ...
11 years ago
ListenSEPTA, Philly closer to deal for transit authority to take over concourses
A Philadelphia City Council committee has approved SEPTA taking over the underground concourses in the city. Under the deal ...
11 years ago
Listen‘LOOP’ tax relief forms mailed to pre-qualified Philly residents; just sign and return
Philadelphia homeowners have a very short time to sign up for a new tax relief measure. About 80,000 letters are being mailed out ...
11 years ago
ListenSchools could get ads if council approves bill
A Philadelphia City Council Committee has approved a bill to allow advertising on SOME school district properties. ...
11 years ago
Listen