There is immense talent in South Africa, particularly at community and grassroots level, but access to practical knowledge, networks and real-world (media) industry insight is uneven. That’s the word from Mandy Kayser, executive director of Media Advertising Developing Services, or MADS. To address the gap, the organisation is hosting fully-sponsored masterclasses in Gauteng, the first of which takes place in late February. The anticipated outcome, says Kayser, is “practical insight that can be applied immediately, strengthening how participants think, decide and act within media, advertising and communication environments. These workshops form part of a broader programme of masterclasses and development initiatives that MADS will roll out during the year across the media, advertising, marketing and communication sectors, she adds.