A Career Rooted in Observation and Analysis
Ken Silverstein has spent decades building a career in journalism that bridges the worlds of energy, business, and global politics. His reporting reflects a deep understanding of the forces that shape power markets, the geopolitical landscape, and the evolving dialogue centered on climate issues. Known for clarity and insight, Silverstein has established himself as a journalist whose work is both widely read and widely distributed. His columns have appeared in major outlets, including Forbes and RealClear, while his writing has been syndicated through networks such as MSN, Tribune News Service, and News Break, appearing in dozens, if not hundreds, of newspapers and publications.
Silverstein’s academic foundation combines business acumen with journalistic training. He earned a BA and an MBA from Tulane University before completing an MA in print journalism at American University. In 1983, he began his professional career as an intern for PBS’s The McNeil Lehrer Report in New York City, shortly before the program became The McNeil Lehrer NewsHour. This early exposure to high-level reporting gave him a foundation in analyzing complex issues for a mass audience, skills that would guide his later work.
Silverstein started by covering the financial sector from the late 1980s into the mid-1990s. He developed a nuanced understanding of markets, regulation, and institutional behavior. As the energy industry became a focus during the Enron era, he shifted his reporting to cover energy markets. He became one of the first online energy columnists, producing analyses for IssueAlert and EnergyBiz Insider. His columns examined corporate ethics, regulatory oversight, and the dynamics of power markets, earning citations in the New York Times and recognition as a leading voice in digital energy journalism.
One distinguishing feature of Silverstein’s career is the broad circulation of his work. Many of his columns have been picked up and redistributed by major news services such as MSN, Tribune News Service, and News Break. Through this syndication, his insights on energy, business, and climate have reached national and international audiences. This wide distribution amplifies the influence of his reporting, ensuring that his analysis informs a large readership across multiple regions and markets.
Silverstein has reported from Africa, China, Japan, Thailand, the Middle East, South America, and Europe. He has also covered developments in the Global South, including Fiji, Colombia, and Belize, and has spent time in the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Ukraine. These assignments have allowed him to analyze how energy decisions, political shifts, and climate considerations interact across borders. His work has also appeared on television programs, including PBS’s White House Chronicles and on CSPAN, as well as in discussions hosted by the United States Energy Association. He has explained complex issues such as the shale gas boom in the Marcellus Basin on National Public Radio, demonstrating an ability to translate technical topics for general audiences.
Throughout his career, Silverstein has pursued investigative reporting that examines corporate accountability. During the early 2000s, he contributed to Primedia magazines on projects exploring regulatory challenges in California. His IssueAlert columns addressed Enron, focusing on corporate culture, ethics, and crisis management, and he later revisited the company’s lessons in Forbes and EnergyBiz. In 2012 and 2013, he reported on Southern California Edison’s nuclear operations, revealing that internal sources had identified defects in new steam generators years before small radiation leaks occurred. These stories highlight Silverstein’s commitment to uncovering issues that affect public safety and corporate transparency.
In recent years, Silverstein has focused on the intersections of energy policy, geopolitics, and climate change. As a Senior Contributor to Forbes, he has written extensively on oil, gas, nuclear energy, and renewable technologies. He examines how political decisions shape energy markets and influence climate strategies. His reporting on the Abraham Accords, for example, explored opportunities for regional energy cooperation, green technology initiatives, and stability in the Middle East. He has also written about economic pressures such as the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuating oil prices, showing how these factors impact national energy transitions, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. His coverage of global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, highlights the connection between leadership, policy, and market shifts.
Silverstein’s contributions have been widely recognized. Media Industry News named him one of the most intriguing people in media in 2012, the same year he received the Gold Award for Original Web Commentary from the American Society of Business Press Editors. His EnergyBiz Insider column “Will the Nuclear Sector Rise Again” won the Media Industry News award for Best Online Column in the business-to-business division. He was recognized as a top economic and financial journalist by the Wall Street Economists Institute project in 2011. Earlier, in 2008, his article “Venezuela’s Power Grab” earned a bronze award for Original Web Commentary at the ASBPE National Digital Awards. In 2016, Onalytica ranked him among the top global influencers on renewable energy on Twitter.
Ken Silverstein’s career exemplifies how journalism can inform, analyze, and clarify the complex relationships between business, climate, and global politics. His reporting has consistently combined rigorous investigation, accessible writing, and a global perspective. The syndication of his columns and the international reach of his reporting demonstrate his influence as a commentator and analyst. Through decades of work, Silverstein has shown that energy journalism is not just about reporting on markets but also about connecting economic, political, and environmental trends to the decisions that shape the modern world. His voice continues to guide readers through the shifting landscape of power markets, political changes, and climate uncertainty, highlighting the essential role of informed journalism in understanding the contemporary global order.
