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 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.
7 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
Cord cutters beware, either rescan, or lose local stations Friday
If you are using an antenna (not satellite or cable) beginning on Friday morning you need to rescan your TV by going into the setup menu and hitting search or rescan.
7 years ago
Bucks and Montco activists skeptical about Pentagon PFAS task force
The new Secretary of Defense says he wants to review how chemicals in firefighting foam contaminated groundwater near military bases nationwide.
7 years ago
Philly’s top prosecutor calls for end of death penalty in Pennsylvania
Krasner filed a motion arguing the state has used the death penalty arbitrarily, thus violating protections against cruel punishments.
7 years ago
Philly police have new orders for interacting with transgender, nonbinary people
The PPD is rolling out a new policy, which will be one of the most progressive in the country, on how officers interact with transgender and nonbinary people.
7 years ago
Philadelphia working to help homeless find day work with immediate pay
Philadelphia officials are trying a new approach to aggressive panhandling and interacting with people experiencing homelessness in general.
7 years ago
Philly believes it can win hosting rights for 2026 men’s World Cup
Comcast VP David L. Cohen to lead the effort to bring World Cup games to Philadelphia, making the pitch based on hosting the DNC, papal visit and NFL draft.
7 years ago
Philly DA says it’s not his fault violence is getting worse
Krasner says his reform approach focuses on nonviolent offenders, such as those arrested for drug possession, not those accused of shootings.
7 years ago










