diff --git a/hello_world/README.md b/hello_world/README.md
index bdf0d93..a3ab9b4 100644
--- a/hello_world/README.md
+++ b/hello_world/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Hello World MLCube
 
+## Optional run audit manifest
+This example includes `audit_manifest.example.json` as an optional sidecar for recording reproducible, audit-safe run metadata. It is not required by MLCube runners and does not change task execution.
+
+Use this kind of manifest to record the task, runner, image, inputs, outputs, and result status for a run. Do not store raw secrets, tokens, private paths, or sensitive arguments in public audit manifests.
+
 ## Create and initialize python environment
 ```
 virtualenv -p python3 ./env && source ./env/bin/activate && pip install mlcube-docker mlcube-singularity mlcube-ssh
diff --git a/hello_world/audit_manifest.example.json b/hello_world/audit_manifest.example.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7aab1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello_world/audit_manifest.example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "schema_version": "mlcube.run_audit.v1",
+  "example": "hello_world",
+  "mlcube_task": "hello",
+  "runner": "docker",
+  "image": "mlcommons/hello_world:0.0.1",
+  "inputs": [
+    "workspace/names/alice.txt"
+  ],
+  "outputs": [
+    "workspace/chats/chat_with_alice.txt"
+  ],
+  "claim_status": "diagnostic",
+  "redaction_status": "safe_for_public_log",
+  "notes": "Optional sidecar manifest for recording reproducible, audit-safe MLCube run metadata."
+}