journaling

A function of e-mail systems (such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes) that copies sent and received items into a second information store for retention or preservation. Because Journaling takes place at the information store (server) level when the items are sent or received, rather than at the mailbox (client) level, some message-related metadata, such as user foldering (what folder the item is stored in within the recipients mailbox) and the status of the read flag, is not retained in the journale

the ability to record all communications in an organization. E-mail communications are one of many different communication mechanisms that you may be required to journal. Therefore, journaling in Exchange has been developed to enable the messaging administrator to feed messaging data into a larger journaling solution, while using minimum overhead.

It is important to understand the difference between journaling and archiving. Journaling is the ability to record all communications; alternatively, archiving refers to reducing the strain of storing data by backing it up, removing it from its native environment, and storing it elsewhere. That said, you may use Exchange journaling as a tool in your e-mail retention or archival strategy.

The ability to record all communications, including e-mail communications, in an organization for use in the organization's e-mail retention or archival strategy. [Exchange 2007]