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Ohio State Fair PR & Marketing Internship Program

Each year, the Ohio State Fair recruits college students for paid public relations internships, during which you can also receive college credit. Interns will be challenged to excel and will receive an invaluable amount of professional experience and generate a wealth of portfolio material ... all while having fun!

Opportunities

Ohio State Fair interns have the unique opportunity to:

Preview the real world of public relations in an exciting setting.
Be treated as a professional communicator and assigned important projects such as writing news releases, contribute to social media content, creating brand journalism content, collaborating on the Fair’s media kit, organizing events and writing newsletters.
Pitch stories, set up interviews and coordinate live broadcasts when working directly with media, one-on-one, during the Fair.
Serve as the key contact to radio and television stations regarding their promotions and remote broadcasts at the Fair.
Complete important assignments in media relations, promotions, desktop publishing and project management.
Enhance your formal education with great on-the-job training.

Qualifications

Be a current college junior, senior or recent graduate studying public relations, communications or journalism.
Have experience writing news releases, organizing events, pitching stories and designing and writing newsletters; desktop publishing or basic design experience (such as Adobe InDesign and Canva) is a plus.
Be detail-oriented, respectful of deadlines and conscientious.
Be self-motivated with the drive to follow through. Work will be completed as a team as well as individually in a fast-paced, fun atmosphere.

When You'll Work

Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in May, June and July. You will be required to work shifts on Saturdays, July 15 and July 22, 2023.
Dates of employment: Monday, May 8 - Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2022, (tentative based on school schedules). The entire internship cannot exceed 14 weeks. There is no work on state holidays: May 29, June 19, and July 4. Extended hours during the Fair: During the 12 days of the Fair, July 26 - August 6, 2023, extended hours will be required (at least a 14-hour shift daily). Interns cannot take time off during the Fair.

Apply by Friday, Dec. 30 at noon

Complete the application through the portal below. Be sure to complete each question and upload a resume, as well as, three writing samples (such as press releases, newsletters, blog posts, magazine articles, etc.).
The deadline for receipt is Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at noon. Interviews will be held in January/February.

Questions?

Contact Jessica West at j.west@expo.ohio.gov or call 614.644.4012

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What do past interns say this experience?

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to work as a PR intern at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair for the summer. This internship has been incredibly valuable. I’ve had the opportunity to write press releases and newsletters that hundreds read, interact with Columbus’ top media stations and talent, and so much more. Above all, I’ve learned how to collaborate with a team to bounce ideas off each other and produce the best result possible. This internship has been such a positive experience professionally and personally; I now have four new lifelong friends."

- Madi, Ohio State University 2022

"This internship has been nothing short of an amazing experience and has allowed me to develop a deeper passion and love for the agriculture and fair industry. All the people I had the opportunity to work with were all very knowledgeable and were willing to talk and educate me on parts of the Fair that were new to me. The sense of independency I was granted as an intern was something I am extremely thankful for and something I believe has allowed me to build my self- confidence, learn how to navigate problems on the spot, and gain and develop a variety of other PR and marketing skills."

- Hannah W, Wittenberg University 2022

"After being a PR and marketing intern for the 2022 Ohio State Fair, there has been no better place to learn the ropes of this profession. It includes food, rides, entertainment, animals and so much more. I feel like I got to experience the whole package in one summer. I can’t forget to mention the relationships I have developed this summer. I can see them all lasting a lifetime. I will never forget any of this because there wasn’t a day I felt like an intern, but instead apart of a team."

- Courtney, Bluffton University 2022

"I can’t say enough good things about my experience as a PR and Marketing intern at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair. Not only have I broadened my professional skills, like writing press releases, creating social media posts, and communicating with local media outlets, but I’ve also made some amazing connections. I was able to network with local media personalities while also experiencing the ins and outs of their daily jobs. And, at the end of the internship, I am able to walk away with not only these news connections but great friendships with all the other interns"

- Hannah H, Miami University 2022

"I have learned so much while working at the Ohio State Fair & Expo Center as a Marketing and PR Coordinator. This internship has allowed me to dramatically build my skills and resume and has provided a meaningful summer full of hands-on experience. My major is news and info journalism, and this internship has broadened my horizons as to what I can accomplish with that degree. It has also served as an incredible networking experience, as I am now in contact with many professional journalists, from both in and outside the state of Ohio."

- Katie, Ohio University 2022