Tom MacDonald

Reporter

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

Calling on City Council to vote in favor of a bill requiring landlords to have just cause before evicting a tenant, demonstrators rally Thursday outside City Hall in Philadelphia. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Politics & Policy

Proposal to protect Philly tenants from unjust eviction may get vote this month

Demonstrators rally for City Council support on a bill to uphold tenant rights

7 years ago

In this file photo, former Independent Steelworkers Union President, Walter Bish, of Weirton, W.Va., and a retired steelworker stands near steel coils located at Weirton Steel plant in Weirton, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. In 1984, Weirton Steel Corp. created a labor legacy, becoming the first major manufacturer and the largest company in America to be owned 100 percent by employees. Its early success inspired United Airlines, Avis and Polaroid, among others, to adopt Employee Stock Ownership Plans. Today, Wawa participates in the little-known program. (Scott McCloskey/AP Photo)

Money

Business owners can benefit from selling to employees

The employee stock ownership plan — known as an ESOP — has been around a long time, but few business owners give it a look.

7 years ago

If a bill designed to end Philadelphia's sweetened beverage tax were approved in Harrisburg, City Council President Darrell Clarke says the city's 10 percent tax on liquor sold by the glass could also be challenged. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Politics & Policy

Liquor by the drink levy could be casualty of fight against Philly soda tax

Philadelphia's 10 percent tax on liquor sold by the glass generates between $40 and $60 million a year — exclusively for city schools.

7 years ago

Cars and trucks parked in the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine streets force cyclists to take risky dodges into traffic.

Politics & Policy

City Council moves to monitor dangerous Philly intersections

In 2017, 96 people suffered fatal injuries in traffic crashes. The toll included 40 pedestrians and three cyclists.

7 years ago

The flag of Israel is raised above City Hall in Philadelphia Monday. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Politics & Policy

Israeli flag raised at Philadelphia City Hall

As the U.S. opened its embassy in Jerusalem, Philadelphia officials raised Israel's flag at City Hall Monday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the nation.

7 years ago