Jay Sykes

About Jay Sykes

Hi, my name's Jay. I have been teaching at the University since 2015, where I specialise in audio production and writing workshops – drama, documentary, podcasting, and journalism. Alongside teaching, I am actively involved in audio production, including writing/producing programmes for BBC Radio 4, and producing an ongoing podcast series and events platform, ArtyParti(opens in new tab), which supports artists and creatives in the development of creative practice.

A New York Award-winner for my audio drama Seaburn(opens in new tab) (which I wrote and produced while studying here), and an avid reader of young adult queer fiction, I am keen to continue developing my writing and production practice in the fictional space, and to tell stories that resonate with the queer community. Currently, I am writing a 10-part queer young-adult audio drama series called Tyler(opens in new tab), slated for release in summer 2027.

Current/active projects include:

ArtyParti (Producer/Event Director)
(opens in new tab)ArtyParti is a twice-monthly podcast, events series, and community platform that celebrates and supports the development of artists and creatives. We bring artists and creatives together to share their projects and passions, promote events and exhibitions, and offer insight and advice on developing creative practice. Whether emerging or established, everyone is invited to ArtyParti.

Ramping Up Rights: An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism (Audiobook Producer)(opens in new tab)
A 100-year history of enraging injustices and inspiring campaigns; the fight for British disability rights isn’t over. Rachel Charlton-Dailey highlights a shockingly overlooked tradition of disabled struggle. She unpacks how British attitudes and policy went so wrong in the 21st century, and interviews campaigners and disabled people about how they have reclaimed power, from resisting government reforms to changing the media narrative.

Making Stories in Sunderland: Mapping Local Theatres (Podcast Editor)(opens in new tab)
Throughout 2024–2025, Dr Kay Hepplewhite (Research Associate) and Dr Adelle Hulsmeier (Project Co-Lead) have been researching the local theatre landscape across the City of Sunderland, particularly mapping the city’s theatre offer.

Recent projects include:

'William's Castle' – BBC Radio 4 – Drama (Writer and Producer)(opens in new tab)
Folded in the faded browned paper of an 1897 order of service, and stuffed between the wooden slats of a church pew, Paige uncovers a letter from a young orphaned choirboy. Now, the search begins to find out what happened to William Elliott, a young boy yearning to be remembered.

'Vessels of Memory: Glass Ships of Sunderland' – BBC Radio 4 – Documentary (Producer)(opens in new tab)
Dive into the history of 'glass ships in bottles'; the changing identity of a post-industrial northern city as told through the eyes of Japanese glass artist Ayako Tani, who is preserving the endangered art of sculpting the hand-crafted glass ships which once put Sunderland on the map.

Teaching and supervision

I am module leader for:

MED1901 – Radio and Podcasting
Students on this module produce an episode of the What's Your Spark? podcast series, a short music-based interview feature, and hour-long live radio shows on our community radio station Spark(opens in new tab).

I teach the following modules:

BA (Hons) Media Production

FIP3001 – Major Practical Project 1
In this multi-modal module designed around the pre-production stages of a group or individual final project, I deliver sessions focused on audio drama and audio documentary production craft.
FIP3002 – Major Practical Project 2
I focus on supporting students on audio drama and documentary productions. This is split between bespoke individualised supervision and ongoing collaborative workshops.
MED1901 – Radio and Podcasting
Taught alongside Richard Berry, I deliver workshops related to the live radio show, feature, and podcast production assignments.
MED2901 – Podcasting and Creative Audio
Taught alongside Richard Berry, this module involves students creating multiple episodes of a new podcast series, an audio drama, and a short story told entirely in sound, without voice. I deliver the 'Audio Story' and 'Audio Drama' workshops.

BA (Hons) Film and Media

MED3701 – Popular Media Formats
Taught alongside Richard Berry, students submit audio-visual podcasts which investigate popular media formats. I deliver practical workshops in audio storytelling, recording, interviewing, editing, and production.

BA (Hons) Journalism

MED1001 – Introduction to Journalism
Among other assignments which cover a variety of journalistic outputs, students submit an episode of the Word on Wearside podcast. I deliver weekly workshops covering all aspects of podcast production, including storytelling, recording, interviewing, editing, and production.

Integrated Foundation Year

FDN002 – Foundation Project
Students create a portfolio of creative writing for various media outputs: audio drama, film and TV, theatre, and storyboards and treatments. I deliver these workshops for students on the Creative Professional Writing, Social Media Management, and Film and Media pathway.
Additionally, I deliver podcasting production workshops with the Education, Health and Social Sciences pathway students, who are tasked with producing a podcast episode tied to their discipline.
FDN029 – Foundations of English, Journalism, and Media Theory
I deliver occasional guest lectures throughout the year, covering queer media theory, satire of political figures, and storytelling, among other topics.