Karl Hans Haysen was born in Vienna in 1926 and grew up in Neufünfhaus in the inner city district. He started at the “Kleinen Zeitung” in 1955. Shortly before the third states exam for his law studies, he was employed by Karl Maria Stepan for the Styria. After being asked about his journalistic interests, Haysen promptly answered: “Culture”.

As editor and later as Head of the Department of Culture at the “Kleinen Zeitung” for many years, the lively and witty Viennese transformed in to a convincing Styrian and belonged to the CV, as did Hanns Sassmann and Kurt Vorhofer. He gave the decisive impetus for the founding of the “Forum Stadtpark” and was the journalistic support for his friend Hanns Koren with the development of the “Steirischer Herbst” (styrian autumn). As a valuable member of the cultural scene and having an intimate knowledge of it, Karl Hans Haysen supported many artists and literary figures from his country.

In a moving obituary, Haysen who died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 60, was acknowledged by Kurt Wimmer as “ a focal point and an integrations figure”, who possessed the ability, “to surround himself with people from completely different milieus and ideological areas”.