Fox News’s two-night special “The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden” premiers tonight at 10pmET. Reported by FNC DC correspondent Peter Doocy, the special features an exclusive interview with the Navy SEAL who says he fired the shots that killed Usama Bin Laden.
Rob O’Neill, the Navy SEAL who, until last week, was known only as “The Shooter,” will open up about Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that killed Bin Laden.
TVNewser caught up with Doocy — only 5 years out of college — to discuss landing such a big get, his long-term TV news plans and the role his father, Fox & Friends anchor Steve Doocy, has had on his career.
TVNewser: So, how did you land such a important interview for “The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden?”
Doocy: Rob O’Neill and I were introduced through a third party shortly after the bin Laden raid, and developed a relationship that made him feel comfortable coming to us when he was ready to tell his story.
TVNewser: This is obviously a major moment in your career that could lead to bigger things. What are your long-term career goals?
Doocy: The Rob O’Neill interview is certainly a career highlight, and I am so proud to be part of a project that will hopefully bring people right back to that great feeling they had on the night President Obama announced that a brave group of Navy SEALS, with the help of countless others in the military, finally killed Usama bin Laden. After this is all done, my goal is to remain as involved as I can in big stories like this, and I am lucky to work in Washington where there is never a shortage of stories that matter to millions of people around the world, like this one.
TVNewser: It’s inevitable that people such as yourself, and Luke Russert, get criticized for nepotism. How much has your father actually contributed to your success?
Doocy: My father and my mother, who worked in television as well, have been invaluable helping me navigate the uncharted waters that every young reporter finds themselves in at one point or another. They’ve been there, and I credit them with helping me continue to grow as a reporter.
TVNewser: What inspired you to get into journalism in the first place?
Doocy: In college, at Villanova, my big interest was in politics. I’ve found that journalism presents the fun challenge of learning all about a political debate or a policy issue in one day, then the power of relaying to people what the most important aspects of the story are. I get to do something different every day, and I like that.
TVNewser: You’ve worked in D.C. and New York plus you’re an avid baseball fan. Who are you rooting for if the Yankees and Nationals play in the World Series one day?
Doocy: This really becomes a question of Bryce Harper vs. Derek Jeter. When I was playing HS baseball in Northern New Jersey, I tried to do everything just like #2, and he was just becoming a star as I began paying attention to baseball. But shortly after moving to DC, I started going to Nationals games, and was actually in the house when Harper hit his first ever home run. I want to root for Harper as long as he is playing, so in any World Series in the next 20 years: go Nats!