As adjectives the difference between journal and tabloid
is that
journal is daily while
tabloid is in the format of a tabloid.
As nouns the difference between journal and tabloid
is that
journal is a diary or daily record of a person, organization, vessel etc.; daybook while
tabloid is a newspaper having pages half the dimensions of the standard format, especially one that favours stories of a sensational nature over more serious news.
As a verb journal
is to archive or record something.