Tom Fudge
News Editor

A journalist with 25 years of experience, Tom joined KPBS in 1998 to cover San Diego issues related to growth, transportation, and development. In September of 1999, Tom took over as host of These Days (now Midday Edition) where he served for nearly a decade. Now a news editor, Tom supervises reporting by the KPBS arts and investigations teams. He also edits stories related to science and border coverage.
Tom began his broadcasting career in 1988 at WSUI Radio in Iowa City as a reporter and newscaster. He then spent five years at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) where he worked as a reporter. Following his departure from MPR, Tom was a freelance journalist, working for Twin Cities Public Television, WCCO Radio, and a variety of regional and national newspapers and magazines.
He has received recognition for his outstanding work in hosting and public affairs reporting from the Unity Awards, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, and the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Recent Stories by Tom Fudge
Chula Vista Moves Into The Marijuana Business
- March 1
- By Tom Fudge
The Chula Vista City Council votes to allow sales and cultivation of recreational pot, as long as voters allow it to be taxed.

San Diego Symphony Names Rafael Payare Its New Musical Director
- Feb. 13
- By Tom Fudge
Thirty-seven year old Venezuelan Rafael Payare will replace Jahja Ling as musical director of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

San Diego Pursues Drought-Proof Water Supply
- Feb. 13
- By Tom Fudge
Following a record dry June-to-December, San Diego water officials still say the region has plenty of water.

Festival Celebrates Fermented Food And Drinks
- Feb. 8
- By Marissa Cabrera, Tom Fudge
The 4th annual Fermented Food Festival takes place Sunday in Encinitas. UC San Diego biologist Rob Knight will deliver the keynote and discuss the links between fermented food and gut health.

UC San Diego Conference Aims To 'Rethink The War On Drugs'
- Feb. 8
- By Brooke Ruth, Tom Fudge
Drugs have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border in the last decade.
USS Portland Arrives Monday In Home Port San Diego
- Jan. 22
- By Tom Fudge
The Navy's new ship joins an existing fleet of five transport dock ships in San Diego.
Gondolas In San Diego Have Powerful Backer But Still No Liftoff
- Dec. 18, 2017
- By Tom Fudge
Supporters say mass transit gondolas are affordable and have a light touch on the urban landscape. So why hasn’t San Diego built any?

Supervisor Ron Roberts On The Continued Push For Gondolas In San Diego
- Nov. 21, 2017
- By Tom Fudge
Roberts first introduced the idea for a sky tram from Balboa Park to downtown San Diego in 2014. But getting the political support has been challenging. Some estimates put the cost of sky trams at $50 million per mile.

San Diego To Partner With Ford And Qualcomm To Test Driverless Cars
- Nov. 20, 2017
- By Tom Fudge
Qualcomm, along with other tech firms and Ford Motor Company, will be testing their driverless car technology in San Diego County.

What San Diegans Want In A New Police Chief
- Nov. 16, 2017
- By City News Service, Tom Fudge
The next San Diego police chief should be compassionate and fair or should be a "cop's cop," depending who you ask.