Supporters of literary journal Meanjin have staged a protest against its closure, as its publisher denies claims coverage of the Gaza war was a factor in the demise.

Melbourne University Publishing announced last Thursday the quarterly would cease publication after its December issue, with the decision made on "purely financial grounds".

A small crowd gathered outside the offices of the publishing house at the University of Melbourne's Parkville campus on Thursday morning, to hear speeches by writer and editor Evelyn Araluen, Deakin University Professor Emily Potter, and a reading by poet Pi O.

Writer and Monash University lecturer Ben Eltham questioned whether the decision to close Meanjin was made on financial grounds alone.

"We don't believe that's credible. It doesn't stack up," he

See Full Page