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Ohio State Fair Public Relations & Marketing Internship Program

Marketing & PR Video

2026 Intern Video

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.).

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, 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 17 and July 24, 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 31, June 18, and July 5. Extended hours during the Fair: During the 12 days of the Fair, July 28 - Aug. 8, 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?

Contact the Public Relations and Marketing Department at media@expo.ohio.gov.

What do past interns say about this experience?

"As an Agricultural Communications and Public Policy Analysis double major at Ohio State, this side of marketing was not my first thought when I came to a career. After this internship I can confidently say that Broadcast Media is a career I will be thinking about for the future. Ive been able to not only connect with media partners, but I've been able to plan and execute media segments. Not a day went by that I wasn’t learning something new and I'm so grateful to be able to be surrounded by people willing to help my personal and professional development. This is a once in a lifetime internship opportunity to get to see multiple sides of communications and media in just one summer."
- Leah, The Ohio State University, 2026 Ohio State Fair Intern

"Looking back, my summer interning at the Ohio State Fair was equal parts chaos and reward. One day I'd be drafting a press release or wrestling a daily schedule into InDesign, and the next day I'd be walking reporters through shot lists and answering last-minute questions before the live hits. Then there were the curveballs, such as a pop-up storm preventing outdoor segment ideas from happening or a word that a concert act might cancel. In those moments, you realize there's no perfect script. You just have to move, communicate clearly and trust your team. That's when the saying “without discomfort, there is no growth” really took shape for me. What I appreciated most was that leadership didn't expect me to be flawless. You do have room for error, but you also learn to solve problems quickly, especially with a producer breathing down your neck and a deadline ticking. All in all, from crisis communication to writing press releases to coordinating media logistics to designing social media flyers and everything in between, I walked away with something even more important than portfolio clips. I am relieved to have walked away knowing I can actually handle the real, unpolished, fast-moving world of PR."
- Max, Ashland University, 2026 Ohio State Fair Intern

"My internship with the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair gave me the opportunity to experience both sides of the journalism field. From months of preparation to the excitement of seeing those plans come to life during the Fair. Before opening day, I wrote newsletters and press releases, created daily schedules and helped coordinate coverage with media outlets. Once the Fair began, I worked directly with reporters, producers, vendors and interviewees to organize live segments and quickly adapt when plans changed. One of the most rewarding moments was watching an entire day of television coverage I helped plan unfold successfully. This experience strengthened my writing, communication and problem-solving skills while showing me how much collaboration happens behind the scenes of a major event. I was trusted with meaningful responsibilities, encouraged to take initiative and surrounded by people who genuinely wanted me to succeed. I left the internship with work I am proud to include in my portfolio, valuable professional relationships and even more confidence that public relations, media and storytelling are the fields I want to pursue."
- Lilly, Ohio University, 2026 Ohio State Fair Intern

"This summer was one of my favorites for a handful of reasons. I got firsthand experience in the PR, Marketing and Media Relations field. My writing skills have improved greatly, I gained more knowledge in digital communication, such as emails and newsletters and I was able to work directly with different media outlets. During the Fair, every day was unique in what I did. From scheduling interviews, racing against the clock from live hit to live hit, writing and editing work, I loved trying everything there is to offer in this field. I met some of the best people, made great connections, and created work I am excited to take with me. I now feel solidified in what I want to do with my career."
- Madeline, The Ohio State University, 2026 Ohio State Fair Intern

"The PR and Marketing Internship Program at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds is a unique opportunity to jump right in and see what it takes to market one of Ohio’s largest annual events. This summer, I worked on projects from the first brainstorm all the way through execution, which made it especially rewarding to watch months of planning come to life once the Fair began. No two days looked quite the same, and I had the chance to learn from people across departments and partner organizations while also being trusted with meaningful work of my own. I was encouraged to try new things, take on challenges and find the areas of communications and storytelling that I enjoyed most. By the end of the summer, I walked away with a portfolio I’m proud of, relationships I hope to carry with me throughout my career and a much clearer sense of the kind of work I want to keep doing."
- Nikki, The Ohio State University, 2026 Ohio State Fair Intern

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