On December 18, 2019, at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Congress Center in Bergamo, the presentation of the book ULTIMA EDIZIONE. Storie nere dagli archivi de La Notte took place, followed by a discussion with the authors Alan Maglio, Luca Matarazzo, and Salvatore Garzillo, alongside Maurizio Donelli (Corriere della Sera) and Franco Cattaneo (L’Eco di Bergamo).
The history of “La Notte” is recounted in a striking book of photographs and interviews: over 300 pages of mostly unpublished images that reconstruct an era, contributed by journalists and photographers who worked for La Notte, a daily newspaper that made crime reporting a key part of the public imagination. This extraordinary editorial project was the starting point for the event organized by Fondazione Pesenti, featuring the curators of ULTIMA EDIZIONE—Alan Maglio, Luca Matarazzo, and Salvatore Garzillo—along with Maurizio Donelli (Corriere della Sera) and Franco Cattaneo (L’Eco di Bergamo).
The recent release of a beautiful photographic book with unpublished interviews, based on the archives of the Milanese newspaper La Notte (ULTIMA EDIZIONE, curated by photographers Alan Maglio and Luca Matarazzo and ANSA reporter Salvatore Garzillo, published by Milieu Edizioni), offers a chance to revisit the great true crime reporting of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, and a newspaper that, in its own way, set a precedent and anticipated trends.
Founded in 1952 and published until 1995, La Notte was created by publisher Carlo Pesenti ahead of the 1953 political elections. Its first director was Nino Nutrizio, then known primarily as a sports journalist, who succeeded in launching a newspaper that endured for decades. In a short time, La Notte became one of the most widely read newspapers of the 1950s and 1960s, with circulation steadily rising to 250,000 copies and three daily editions: at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.
A point of reference for Milanese and national news, La Notte became famous especially for its crime reporting, accompanied by outstanding photographic work: crime scenes, murder weapons, arrests, and the faces of suspects were shown with immediacy and striking, high-quality images.
Alan Maglio
Born in 1979 in Milan, Alan Maglio is an artist and photographer. His work—shown in national and international exhibitions—includes reinterpretations of archival materials using collage and cinema techniques. He directed Asmarina (2015) and Milano Centrale – Stories from the Train Station (2007), two films exploring the cultural identity of African communities in Italy. His recent project Nuda proprietà involved photographing over 500 interiors of Milanese apartments, creating an intimate archive of lived spaces.
Luca Matarazzo
Born in 1982 in Milan, Luca Matarazzo is a photojournalist and artist. After studying photojournalism at Contrasto, he began collaborating with the historic agency Tam Tam Fotografie, later joining Agenzia Fotogramma. His photographs and reports have been published in leading newspapers such as Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, and national and international magazines. In 2016, he won the “Guido Vergani Award – Photographer/Reporter of the Year.” His artistic research explores various languages including collage, instant photography, and unconventional use of digital acquisition tools.
Salvatore Garzillo
Born in 1987, Salvatore Garzillo is a journalist from Naples who began working with local newspapers at 17. In 2010, he moved to Milan to work for Libero. The following year, he was selected by ANSA and the Il Messaggero group as a crime reporter. He has covered major Italian crime stories in recent years and produced reports from Afghanistan, Kosovo, Greece, and Ukraine, published also by Corriere della Sera and Rolling Stone. In 2016, he received a special mention at the “Guido Vergani Award – Reporter of the Year.” He always carries two pens and sketches everywhere—even on receipts. His best drawings are kept in the notebook he takes to the police station, amidst detailed notes of the cases he follows daily.
Maurizio Donelli
From Genoa, currently chief editor at Corriere della Sera, Maurizio Donelli was a reporter for La Notte. He has two passions: Genoa (his football team) and hunting. Throughout his career, he has covered everything: white-collar crime, violent crime, politics, social issues, economy, and motorsports.
Franco Cattaneo
A journalist from Bergamo, Franco Cattaneo received the Vergani Award for “Life as a Reporter.” He served as deputy editor of L’Eco di Bergamo for 12 years and was correspondent for Corriere della Sera from Bergamo for 18 years. He currently writes as a columnist for L’Eco di Bergamo.
