AOL had some positives in its first quarter earnings report. Total revenue for the company was up two percent compared to last year, hitting $538 million. Ad sales were also up nine percent, from $330 million to $359 million.

Those are good signs, but as always, the hilarious highlight of any AOL earnings report is noting that it’s still raking in lots of cash from people using its dial-up service. Though subscription revenue declined nine percent for Q1, those customers who continue to live in 1999 brought the company $165 million.

“AOL’s strategy of being the first scaled media and technology company is clearly represented in our results today, and we will continue to aggressively drive the company toward near-and long-term growth,” said Tim Armstrong, the company’s CEO, in a statement.

Peter Land has been named senior vice president of corporate communications at AOL. He comes to the company from PepsiCo, where he most recently served as head of communications. Land has been with PepsiCo since 2009. Prior to that he was a global managing director at Edelman.

“With more than 25 years of senior level communications experience working for several of the world’s leading media companies and brands, Peter’s ability to navigate the dynamic media and digital environments, develop and manage teams worldwide and work strategically and effectively in both the consumer marketing and corporate reputation arenas will make him a critically important member of our leadership team,” wrote Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, in a note.

Land will report to Armstrong.

A couple of big changes to AOL this morning. Arthur Minson, COO of the company, is stepping down from his role, and Susan Lyne has been named CEO of AOL’s Brand Group.

Minson was named CFO of the company in 2009, then was promoted to COO last summer. Minson will remain at AOL, but it’s uncertain for how long. “Artie has played a key role in the turnaround of AOL and that will continue in 2013 during the transition period,” said Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, in a statement.”

Lyne was most recently chairman and CEO of Gilt Groupe. In her new role she will oversee a variety of brands, including TechCrunch and Engadget. Arianna Huffington will of course continue to run The Huffington Post.

For AOL, the fourth quarter of 2012 was a solid one. According to its earnings report, the company posted year-over-year revenue growth for the first time in eight years. During 2011′s fourth quarter, AOL earned $22.8 million in net income, while last year it pulled in $35.7 million.

The reasons for the good close to 2012? AOL saw a 17 percent percent jump in its search business and a 31 percent bump in its third-party ad business.

AOL reported their third quarter earnings today, and the good news for the company was that revenue was flat. We know, it doesn’t quite sound like a positive, but it is. It’s the first time in seven years AOL’s revenue didn’t decline. The company’s overall ad business was also up seven percent compared to 3Q 2011. Additionally, traffic to AOL’s sites increased four percent.

Now for the bad news. Domestic display revenue, which is vital to AOL, dropped three percent. With that, overall display sales dropped one percent.

Unsurprisingly, Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, considered it a solid earnings report. “We just reported the best relative revenue performance in seven years and the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year profit growth, exceeding our expectations,” said Armstrong, in a statement. “We have positioned AOL for growth in 2013 and beyond with consumer and advertiser demand growing for our premium content and innovative products, video, services and ad formats.”

AOL has named Jolie Hunt as its chief marketing and communications officer, a new role at the company. Hunt comes to AOL from Reuters, where she worked as senior vice president, global head of brand and public relations. At AOL Hunt will oversee the company’s communications strategy.

“We are excited to welcome Jolie to AOL as a member of our executive leadership team,” said Tim Armstrong, chairman and CEO of AOL. “Marketing and communications are critically important to AOL, especially at a time when we are driving growth and improved profitability across our businesses. Jolie is an extraordinary talent and brings a wealth of experience to this critical role.”

Hunt will report to Armstrong.

Curtis Brown has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of AOL. Brown has been with AOL since 2010 and has been acting CTO since March of this year. In a statement announcing the title/role change, Tim Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of AOL, praised Brown’s wealth of experience.

“Curtis brings to the CTO role both deep technical experience and an authentic and engaging leadership style that has earned him the strong support of people throughout the Technology organization, the Technology Cabinet and the business leadership of the company” said Armstrong. “I’m especially pleased that this role provides us the opportunity to promote such a strong talent from within the AOL family.”

Brown’s new role is effective immediately.

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong has refuted a rumor from earlier today that AOL is planning to sell Engadget and TechCrunch. He explained to AdertisingAge that the company has explored outside partnerships for investments opportunities. But a sale? Nope.

“We are planning to invest in those properties, not sell [them]” Armstrong told AdAge.

Now who/what do you believe? Armstrong or the rumor? Either way, there’s probably a lot more to this story.

• TVSpy: Today is National Hug An Anchor Day. It is also World Rat Day. Pick one to celebrate and do so with passion.
• MediaJobsDaily: AOL’s Tim Armstrong can now relax, knowing that he’ll be overseeing the company hemorrhaging money for another four years.
• FishbowlLA: Here is Jim Rome’s first attempt at making sports fans angry on a different network.

Now this is hard to believe.

After a blissful one-year anniversary between AOL and Huffington Post, sources have told Business Insider that top executives at AOL, including CEO Tim Armstrong, have their hands full with Arianna Huffington, who is a “headache” to deal with because of nonexistent “operating experience.”

Even so, it’s being suggested that Armstrong can see past the frustration and complaints (including that she is attention-needy) to understand Huffington’s worth.

Business Insider reports: “The value of having her is huge from a recruiting standpoint. And she’s an earned media machine. [She brings] incredible value in being a leader [with] public credibility,” says this source.

It’s always about the big picture, right?