This fund was established in 2000 by the newsroom staff of The Florida Times-Union and Holland & Knight, a law firm, in honor of Fred Hartmann. The
assistantship supports graduate students who demonstrate an interest in journalism ethics for First Amendment problems. Fred was born to a pastry chef from Switzerland and a chambermaid from Germany who met and married after immigrating to America. Fred attended the University of Delaware and worked as a stringer covering sports for the Wilmington News-Journal before graduating. He then received his master's degree in journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Fred began his career as a radio desk rewrite man for the Associated Press in New York City, but soon realized the cost of living in New York was too high and decided to move back to Wilmington with his parents. He worked as a general assignment reporter for The Wilmington Morning News, in Wilmington, and eventually became metro editor, then executive editor for the paper.

In 1980, Fred moved to Florida to work for The Florida Times Union, where he stayed for 18 years and served as the managing editor. After arriving, he was promoted to executive editor, which put him in charge of both The Florida Times Union and the afternoon paper, The Jacksonville Journal. When The Jacksonville Journal folded in 1988, he was named editor of The Florida Times Union. During his stint as editor, The Florida Times-Union and The Jacksonville Journal won more Florida Society of Newspaper Editors Awards than any other paper.

Fred has remained active in Jacksonville. He has been on the board ofdirectors of The St. Johns River City Band for more than 20 years. His daughter's name is Randi Saunder