The Channelling is a new literary magazine devoted to TV. That might seem like a strange marriage - between what are traditionally percieved as high and low artforms - but as television grows in quality [hello HBO! Thank you SBS’s Go Back To Where You Came From] and literature slumps a little, there is a chance to meet in the middle. Not that the writing here is middle brow - we are here to engage readers and debate the culture at large.

The Channelling was created as part of “The Literary Magazine in a Week” project - a one hour workshop that established a title, theme and editorial committee - and to work towards an online magazine about TV writing seemed like an inevitable choice at the end of that hour. TV is short and sharp and the writing about it can transgress the simple reviews that come as with newpaper’s lifeless liftouts. Try Troy Patterson’s incisive write ups on Slate.com, which are one way of approaching the boxed-in world. Clive James - no matter your opinions of his opinions - is a reliable essayist, and he first became known for his erudite TV writing, to which, in ill health, he has recently returned. The writing here then uses television as a starting point to launch into personal essay style.

It is our hope that The Channelling will continue as a space for new and innovative writing about TV.

Literary Magazine in a Week was a workshop devised and run by Sam Twyford-Moore as part of the National Young Writers Month, an initiative of Express Media. The first workshop was held at the NSW Writers’ Centre.

Editorial team: Jacqui Dent, William Mollers, Barnaby Smith, Rosie Stevens, Sam Twyford-Moore

If you are interested in contributing to The Channelling or want to ask about the Literary Magazine in A Week project email us at litmaginaweek [blah] @ [blah] gmail [blah] .com

Remove the [blah]s and spaces, of course.