Ohio State Fair Public Relations & Marketing Internship Program

Apply by Sunday, December 7

• 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.).

Opportunities

• 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, contributing to social media content, creating brand journalism content, collaborating on the Fair’s media kit, organizing events, writing newsletters, and more.
• 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 18 and July 25, 2026.
• Dates of employment: Mid-May through Mid-August (tentative based on school schedules). The entire internship cannot exceed 14 weeks. There is no work on state holidays: May 25, June 19, and July 3. Extended hours during the Fair: During the 12 days of the Fair, July 29 - Aug. 9, 2026, extended hours will be required (at least a 14-hour shift daily). Interns cannot take time off during the Fair.
• Compensation: This is a paid internship at $15 per hour [straight time]

Questions?

What do past interns say about this experience?

“Spending my summer as a PR and Marketing intern for the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds is one of the best decisions I have ever made. This internship has given me hands-on experience and taught me what it means to be a public relations professional. I was encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone and tackle new challenges head-on with the support of my fellow interns and boss. I could not imagine another internship where I would be given the opportunity to grow personally and professionally in the way I have at the Ohio State Fair. I feel confident in my ability to enter the workforce and am forever grateful for the relationships I get to take with me.”

“Spending my summer as a PR and Marketing intern for the Ohio State Fair was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. This internship allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and dive into a professional workspace setting. I gained immense confidence in myself and feel more prepared than ever to enter the workforce as a young professional. Whether it was writing press releases or coordinating media days with local television outlets, all the work I was completing felt meaningful and impactful to the overall success of the fair. The connections made through this internship program allowed me to learn about how public relations and marketing fit into so many different fields, which provided me with helpful insight towards my future goals.”

“Working at the Ohio State Fair as a PR & Marketing Intern has been one of the most fulfilling professional experiences I've had in recent years. This internship allowed me to develop my leadership, group collaboration, and communication skills in a fast-paced work environment. I am walking away from this experience more confident in my professional skills and abilities than I was when I came into this internship. The breakthroughs and growth that I gained from working at the Ohio State Fair as a PR & Marketing Intern were life-changing and have contributed greatly to how I plan to move forward towards my goals and aspirations as a young professional.”