"Magazine" layout or "other", still trying to do this simply...

I read through the entire create 2 columns sticky post, but it's over my nuB head... I also carefully looked through the WP plugin lists.... and searched this forum...(especially "magaine" style).... still don't get it...

What I'm trying to achieve functionally is something like one sees in these two websites, where each of the several areas is displaying title/excerpts either from specific categories in it's own blog, or feeds from other blogs. So simultaneously on one web page are areas highlighting content from a variety of sources. And they're not all on sidebars, but (in the first example) distributed all over the page...

For examples:
http://www.commondreams.org
http://blog.zinio.com/

Is it possible to do this with ATA settings and plugins/widgets, ie: without much code changing? Help appreciated - thanks!