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
SEPTA riders with disabilities say one street-level elevator isn’t enough to improve accessibility
Two lawmakers from Philly have teamed up to improve accessibility on mass transit. But some riders with disabilities question whether the touted improvements go far enough.
4 years ago
Philadelphia tax revenue is up, but concerns linger about future finances
The city of Philadelphia is doing better in tax collections, but the group monitoring its money says they aren’t completely back to pre-pandemic levels.
4 years ago
Philly DA not happy with proposed opioid settlement
A settlement involving many states, including Pennsylvania, might not be good enough for city officials.
4 years ago
Listen 1:33
A one-stop shop aims to connect Philly job-seekers, employers, and social services
The free digital platform intends to match people with businesses that have immediate hiring needs and lower the city’s unemployment rate.
4 years ago
A donation that could advance the futures of students in Camden
AT&T gives more than $40,000 to improve educational opportunities for Camden youth.
4 years ago
Gun buybacks are working in Philly, another one today hopes to build on successes
The city of Philadelphia says gun buybacks have removed dangerous firearms from the city streets.
4 years ago
Rescue group returns home after digging through rubble of Florida condo collapse
A southeast Pennsylvania-based urban rescue team returns after working in Surfside collapse.
4 years ago
Philly controller says Kenney administration not keeping careful watch on finances
The office tasked with keeping an eye on city finances isn’t sure the Kenney administration is doing a good job.
4 years ago
‘We had to hire more folks’: Mayor Kenny says Philly catching up on trash pickups
Philadelphia has hired more sanitation workers to remove a backlog in the city.
4 years ago
Lotto good times for winners of Philadelphia Vax sweepstakes
Only one more round of giveaways remains, with the final drawing set for Monday.
4 years ago
New U.S. citizens are sworn in in Old City
Thirteen men and women from 10 different countries received their citizenship papers at the Betsy Ross House.
4 years ago
Philly and SEPTA issue tech challenge to help people with disabilities navigate transit
SEPTA and the city of Philadelphia are calling for ideas on new ways to use technology to make it easier for people with disabilities to use mass transit.
5 years ago