It’s not so easy being an executive at Facebook during these heady days.

Just ask Mike Murphy, Facebook’s vp of media sales. Murphy was among the panelists taking part in a discussion of digital media at an Advertising Week event, and managed to avoid the subject of Microsoft’s reported interest in a Facebook investment for most of the session.

Then moderator Alison Fahey, an Adweek editor, got to the point after Murphy tried to answer a question about the company’s biggest challenge.

Murphy: “The single biggest challenge for us is just global expansion and being able to handle it –”

Fahey: Why don’t you get some money from Microsoft?

Murphy: Microsoft is a great partner.

Fahey: Are they going to be a bigger partner?

Murphy: As far as the biggest challenge… Alison’s question is my biggest challenge. Or trying to ignore Alison’s question is my biggest challenge.

Fahey: That’s a no-comment?

Murphy: There are so many rumors in the market about Facebook. I was looking at our press clipping last week and we were mentioned in 9,800 articles and we were in 1,700 –

Fahey: I’m only talking about the one today.

Murphy: There are a lot of rumors out there and we don’t comment on them.

Fahey: OK, just needed some closure on that, Mike.

Murphy: Thank you.

Sounds like Murphy just answered Fahey’s question .