Journalist Ken Silverstein writes regularly for Harper’s and The Nation magazines, and he was recognized by the American Journalism Review as one of 20 “Unsung Heroes” of Washington journalism.

Silverstein will discuss the post Cold-War increase in use of private military contractors in war business Wednesday night as a part of UW-Eau Claire’s The Forum series.

“I got into (privatization) basically just from a long-standing interest in intelligence and military policy,” said Silverstein, who wrote the book “Private Warriors.”

He said his presentation titled “Making a Killing: The Corporatization of War,” will have the same theme as “Private Warriors.”

“There really has been an explosion of this private military contracting,” he said.

Several of his articles for publications, such as The American Prospect, Salon and Slate, have been nominated for national awards.

But after a healthy career of freelancing, Silverstein recently committed to the Los Angeles Times’ investigative unit in Washington. He will begin in January.

Beverly Soll, Forum coordinator, encourages students to attend the event.

“It’s just an interesting topic right now with so much talk of war,” Soll said. “He just seems like a really interesting person.”

“Private Warriors,” which was published in 2000, is Silverstein’s fourth book. It discusses the corporate takeover of national security during the past decade.

The presentation will give Silverstein’s views of the modern military-industrial complex that is profiting from the campaign against terrorism. The corporations that do the Pentagon’s bidding provide services that range from logistical support to secret mercenary armies that operate outside the scrutiny of Washington.

He will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Zorn Arena. Admission is $7 for the public, $5 for those 62 and older and UW System or Chippewa Valley Technical College faculty and staff, or $3 for those 17 and younger and UW System or CVTC students. Tickets are available at the University Service Center in Davies Center and also will be sold at the door.

The Forum is funded by the students of UW-Eau Claire and administered by the Activities and Programs office at University Centers and Programs.