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 by Annie Carey
Giovanni Bartoli, one of 15,000 inhabitants of Cagli, shares with one other journalist the responsibility to provide the Cagliesi with their news. While it might seem unrealistic for two men to cover so many people, Bartoli’s background and involvement in Cagli, make him a perfect match for the town.
Bartoli is in his 70s, and his ancestors have been here for centuries. He was born in the house where he lives in today. He knows nearly everyone in the town.
“I have great love and respect for this town,” he says, and because of this love, he holds much pride in the work.
Bartoli writes for the newspaper Corriere Adriatico, which covers the Marche region. Although this paper is published in Pesaro, about 45 miles north of Cagli, Bartoli is able to live and work happily in Cagli thanks to his computer and e-mail. The Corriere Adriatico has one page dedicated to Cagli and two nearby towns, Urbino and Fermignano. Each area has its own journalist who covers the events of that town and compiles them for the newspaper.
Bartoli sees the advantages of covering a small town rather than a city.
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“Large cities may be easy because they are more organized, but I live here. I know everyone here, even the strange characters,” he says.
Bartoli wakes up at 7 a.m., puts on his sunglasses and vest, picks up his recorder and camera and heads out the door.
“Anything can happen suddenly, so I have to be prepared,” he says.
He strolls up and down the streets of Cagli, conversing with his friends about the events of the previous day. He often enjoys a cappuccino outside of Caffé de Commercio as he observes the Piazza Matteotti. He then proceeds home and begins to write the news for the next day’s edition.
One recent article was on the environment. Describing how the mayor of Piobbico set up a program to teach children the importance of recycling. Environmental topics, along with tourism, politics and especially culture, are his favorite subjects.
“Although I write what they ask me to, and not necessarily what I want to, I love writing about culture,” he says enthusiastically.
One event in particular is the Premio de Oca, “The Prize of the Goose”. This event takes place the second Sunday in August in the Piazza Matteotti. It consists of the four areas of Cagli, San Andrea, San Angela, San Francesico and San Augustino. These four “corners” are represented by the Cagliesi who dress in medieval costumes and compete such as tug of war and potato sack races in order to determine a winner of the goose. This annual event and others like it are what brings Cagli together. Bartoli seeks to capture the liveliness of the town and the people to share.
Sometimes he covers a news event, such as the gas explosion at a jeweler’s shop that was the lead story in the next day’s Corriere Adriatico.
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 Bartoli was not always a journalist. He first received a diploma in technical construction and worked with gas resources all over the world, including Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, the Persian Gulf and Russia.
But Bartoli always had a greater passion for writing. So when he was 55 years old, he accepted an opportunity to retire. He decided to attend the Univeristy of Urbino, where he spent three years to receive a degree in journalism. He has spent the past 20 years fulfilling his love for writing and history as a journalist in his hometown.
His home contains books, documents and files clear up to the ceiling. These files are from the past 20 years of his work. He keeps all of his documents either in his home, or in his storage room just down the stairs.
“Only I can find anything in these rooms,” he says with a laugh.
He has one binder in particular that contains the news in from the past few months. Even though he has it saved on his computer, he likes to have it as a backup, just in case.
Bartoli’s great passion for this city means that his job is hardly work to him. He is the eyes for a town where everybody knows your name and they are always glad you came.
Photos by Elise Berry
Video by Christopher Nelson
Web Design by Carolyn "C.K" Kennington
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