Blog frontpage layout question

I want to have my frontpage have a designated spot that post articles from differenet categories.

So for example 6 spaces on the front page that post 6 different categories to them, so that say the first space to the left is latest pic, only post from the pics category will post there and then the space next to it will only post employment openings and so on.



cat one cat two cat three
only articles
from pics employment ads local events

Is this a template issue or a matter of some type of WP setting?

Thanks