diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 31e9659..cb88889 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ a fallback when a section is missing.
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+## v0.6.1 (2026-10-16)
+
 - Show process runtime charts for targets without HTTP metrics.
 - Preserve the App status pill and explain dashboard API refresh failures.
 - Update the bundled Chart.js to 4.5.0, purego to 0.11.1, x/sys to 0.49.0,
@@ -14,6 +16,9 @@ a fallback when a section is missing.
   application-owned `statlite-metrics/v1` endpoint using Javalin's Micrometer
   instrumentation.
 
+- Publish verified multi-platform release images to Docker Hub alongside GHCR.
+- Clarify native installation, first configuration, and integration setup.
+
 ## v0.6.0 (2026-10-05)
 
 - Added first-class Micronaut monitoring with an explicit `micronaut` target,
diff --git a/internal/version/version.go b/internal/version/version.go
index 276b06a..36a239d 100644
--- a/internal/version/version.go
+++ b/internal/version/version.go
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@ package version
 
 // Version is the StatLite build version.
 // Release tags use vX.Y.Z. Development builds on main use a -dev suffix.
-var Version = "v0.6.1-dev"
+var Version = "v0.6.1"
diff --git a/release/release-v0.6.1-journal.md b/release/release-v0.6.1-journal.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b16a0ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release/release-v0.6.1-journal.md
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# StatLite v0.6.1 Release Journal
+
+## Release gate
+
+- Release version: `v0.6.1`.
+- Release issue: [#63](https://github.com/paseo-verde-research/statlite/issues/63).
+- Maintenance source: #59.
+- Operator authorization: user requested the next release and said "proceed" on 2026-10-16 after the v0.6.1 recommendation and release sequence.
+- Candidate branch: `release/v0.6.1`.
+
+### Scope and compatibility
+
+Dashboard process-chart visibility and API-error status presentation, dependency
+upgrades, the Javalin Metrics v1 recipe, verified Docker Hub distribution, and
+installation/documentation improvements since v0.6.0.
+
+Preserve existing configuration, database schema/history, collector contracts,
+and external API compatibility. Javalin remains an application-owned Metrics v1
+recipe. Long-range dashboard sampling retains its documented limitations.
+
+### Certification matrix
+
+| Suite | Disposition | Result |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Spring contract matrix | Required | Pending |
+| Quarkus contract | Required | Pending |
+| Historical database upgrade | Required | Pending |
+| Stress/dashboard query, rebased | Required | Pending |
+| Manual product smoke and dashboard browser | Required | Pending |
+| Micronaut 5 and 4 regression contracts | Required | Pending |
+
+No waivers or accepted risks. Every accepted report must identify the exact
+candidate version, commit, binary SHA-256, fixture, and runtime.
+
+## Candidate preparation
+
+Pending: clean committed candidate, prepare manifest, binary SHA-256, generated
+notes review, complete diff review, and exact-commit CI.
+
+## Manual product review
+
+Pending: exact candidate version, health/storage readiness, self-monitoring,
+dashboard target/range navigation and visual review, changed installation and
+integration claims, and inspection/configuration output review.
+
+## Publication and sign-off
+
+Pending certification and CI. Follow docs/releasing.md for publication order.
+Record final tagged commit, accepted report index, CI/workflow runs, asset and
+container verification, post-release v0.6.2-dev bump, Homebrew/install checks,
+and announcement URL/date here. Do not claim readiness before gates pass.