Meet a Roadrunner: UTSA alumnus Javier Moreno creates Buzzfeed viral hits
(June 25, 2014) -- Meet UTSA alumnus Javier Moreno '10. He is an Editorial Fellow and content creator for the popular social news and entertainment website BuzzFeed Inc.
Moreno's posts, which carry titles such as "21 Definitive Guy-Cry Movie Moments" or "36 Nature Photos That Prove Texas is Not Just Tumbleweeds," are shared on countless social media sites and consumed by thousands of Internet users daily.
Since Moreno's first post, a mash-up video he found online of Elton John and rock band System of a Down, appeared on BuzzFeed a little more than a month ago, he has consistently racked up Internet views numbering in the high thousands to millions. His most well received article, "25 Words That Have a Different Meaning in Texas," received more than 1.6 million views in less than a month.
"My favorite thing about my work at BuzzFeed is the creative freedom it provides," said Moreno. "On any given day, we can write about whatever we want, whether it's a hard-hitting news subject or simply a list of funny cat gifs. I don't know of many workplaces that foster and encourage that sort of creative environment."
Each day, Moreno imagines, researches and posts a variety of new content to the highly trafficked website. In the last month alone, he has posted articles about Texas institutions, cultural differences, sports and pop culture.
"Coming up with fresh ideas is challenging work," said Moreno. "The Internet moves fast, and, at times, staying ahead of current social trends can be a lot harder than it may seem."
However, this is all part of the excitement of the work, and he excels under pressure, he said. After all, doing good work while under pressure is a skill that he spent years at UTSA perfecting, and he is not shy about admitting it.
"I work in an environment that is extremely fast-paced, but my time at UTSA prepared me well for that," said Moreno. "Whether it was studying for an exam, or pulling an all-nighter to put the finishing touches on a paper or project, my upper level classes taught me how to handle the pressure."
While Moreno is fully committed to his work with BuzzFeed, he said he will always appreciate and share the experiences he had at UTSA with anyone who will listen.
"My years at UTSA were some of the best of my life," said Moreno. "I made lifelong friends whom I still keep in contact with to this day. The professors and mentors I had there shaped me morally and professionally, and they instilled in me a passion for hard work. I love and miss the university dearly. No matter where I'm at in the world, I am and will always be a Roadrunner."
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Read the stories of other UTSA students, faculty, staff and alumni on the Meet a Roadrunner website.
View some of Moreno's articles on Buzzfeed.
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