NEW YORK (AP) — Don’t envy NBC News executive Rashida Jones, who is behind this week’s inaugural Democratic presidential debate and will have to juggle 20 candidates, five news personalities and, it’s likely, one tweeting president.

While the event is obviously important for politicians getting their first wide exposure as potential presidents, the stakes are high for NBC News, too.

“Primary debates are a big prestige event for every network,” said Mark Lukasiewicz, dean of Hofstra University’s school of communication, who had Jones’ job four years ago. “It’s why every network tries to get one and tries to get as many as they can. It’s a branding opportunity.”

The debates will be 8 to 10 p.m. Central time today and Thursday, with 10 candidates each night, and will air on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo. Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Jose Diaz-Balart, Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd will be the NBC News personalities onstage in Miami.

NBC has been skittish about revealing too much in advance. The network won’t talk about topics on the agenda — that’s typical — but has also kept under wraps details like time limits for answers or whether candidates get opening or closing statements.

The goal is to focus attention where it should be, said Jones, NBC News’ senior vice president for specials.

“The show is not about the moderators,” she said. “It’s not about NBC. We have the responsibility of being the conduit for the audience, but the focus is about the 10 people on the stage.”