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
Unions offer ‘rapid response’ fix for lead, asbestos in Philly schools
Philadelphia's teachers union has joined together with the Laborers District Council to offer a quick fix to asbestos contamination that has shut down many city schools.
6 years ago
Mummers leader says he wants to work with Mayor Kenney to keep parade
The leader of the comic division says more than just two Mummers tried to wear blackface this year.
6 years ago
Mummers Parade threatened with extinction
Mayor Kenney and City Councilwoman Cindy Bass are threatening the Mummers Parade with fines or even replacement if organizers don’t prevent Mummers from wearing blackface.
6 years ago
Hundreds in Philly, tens of thousands across the nation rally to impeach Trump
The Philly rally was one of 600 protests across the U.S. on the eve of the U.S. House voting on impeachment.
6 years ago
Philly leaders ask parents to check their kids’ rooms for guns
A new twist on the old effort to get people to turn in firearms focuses on getting parents to look for them in their home and turn them in to one of four area churches.
6 years ago
Philly marks 20th Transgender Day of Remembrance with flag raising at City Hall
This is the 20th Transgener Day of Remembrance in the U.S. and the fifth year Philadelphia raised the trans flag at City Hall.
6 years ago
Kratz guilty in gruesome 2017 slaying of three men at Bucks County farm
A Bucks County jury has reached a mixed verdict in the case of Sean Kratz, convicting him of first- and second-degree murder, and finding him guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
6 years ago
Philly officials praise new voting machines, promise to fix ‘significant wrinkles’ for 2020
The city says issues with new voting machines were expected. They plan to look into complaints and fix them for the 2020 election.
6 years ago
Maureen Faulkner, widow of slain Philly police officer, wants Krasner off potential Mumia retrial
The wife of a slain Philadelphia police officer wants the district attorney removed from a possible retrial of her husband's killer, Mumia Abu Jamal.
6 years ago
Gym endorsement crosses party lines, leaders
Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym is putting her support behind Working Families Party candidate Kendra Brooks, with whom she has worked for years.
7 years ago
Philly Police creates unsolved murder website in hopes of catching killers
Deputy Police Commissioner Dennis Wilson says PhillyUnsolvedMurders.com can help restart investigations when the trail has gone cold, by asking for anonymous tips.
7 years ago
Philadelphia officials urge support for refugees amid reports of impending ‘ban’
Philadelphia officials are urging action, amid reports that the Trump administration could lower refugee arrivals to nearly zero in 2020.
7 years ago










