diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
index 59259d262b..f777d3bdd4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
@@ -326,6 +326,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: cargo xtask ${{ matrix.folder }}
         run: cargo xtask structure-check
         working-directory: ./rust/${{ matrix.folder }}
+      - name: check telemetry macro usage
+        run: ./scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh
+        working-directory: ./rust/${{ matrix.folder }}
 
   document-build-options:
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
diff --git a/rust/otap-dataflow/CONTRIBUTING.md b/rust/otap-dataflow/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f43fb27570..41ab304aa3 100644
--- a/rust/otap-dataflow/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/rust/otap-dataflow/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ project-level [CONTRIBUTING][] document.
 
 Run `cargo xtask check` to check the structure of the project.
 
+## Telemetry and logging
+
+All internal logging MUST use the `otel_*` macros from `otap_df_telemetry`
+(not `tracing::info!` or `println!`). See the
+[Events Guide](docs/telemetry/events-guide.md) details.
+
+TODO: Add metrics information
+
 ## Building a Docker image
 
 Run `docker build  --build-context otel-arrow=../../ -f Dockerfile -t df_engine .`
diff --git a/rust/otap-dataflow/docs/telemetry/events-guide.md b/rust/otap-dataflow/docs/telemetry/events-guide.md
index f096e39a67..db74fa8df6 100644
--- a/rust/otap-dataflow/docs/telemetry/events-guide.md
+++ b/rust/otap-dataflow/docs/telemetry/events-guide.md
@@ -36,13 +36,89 @@ Exception rule (traces):
 - If you are recording an actual exception on a span, the regular event name
   MUST be `exception` and the standard exception attributes MUST be used.
 
-In this project, events are preferred to unstructured logs. Event names are
-codified (see below), and their attributes consist of the attributes of the
-relevant entity or entities (stable context), combined with event-specific
-attributes (dynamic context).
+## How to emit events in code
 
-Treat event names as schema identifiers. Evolution rules are defined in
-[Stability and Compatibility Guide](stability-compatibility-guide.md).
+All events MUST be emitted using the `otel_*` macros from the
+`otap_df_telemetry` crate. **Do not** use `tracing::info!`, `log::info!`, or
+`println!` directly. This rule is enforced by
+`scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh` (run in CI).
+
+**Why wrappers instead of raw `tracing` macros?**
+
+- **Mandatory event name.** The first argument to every `otel_*!` macro is the
+  event name. Raw `tracing` macros do not require one, and their default name
+  includes the file path and line number -- which is not durable and breaks
+  filtering, alerting, and dashboards whenever code is moved or reformatted.
+- **Automatic `target`.** The wrappers set the tracing `target` field to the
+  crate name (`env!("CARGO_PKG_NAME")`) automatically. With raw `tracing`
+  macros the default target is the module path, which is an internal
+  implementation detail and can change without notice.
+
+### Available macros
+
+| Macro | Severity |
+|---|---|
+| `otel_debug!` | DEBUG |
+| `otel_info!`  | INFO  |
+| `otel_warn!`  | WARN  |
+| `otel_error!` | ERROR |
+
+### Basic usage
+
+The first argument is always the **event name** (a string literal). Optional
+key-value pairs follow as structured attributes.
+
+```rust
+use otap_df_telemetry::otel_info;
+
+// Event name only (no attributes):
+otel_info!("pipeline.run.start");
+
+// Event name with attributes:
+otel_info!("receiver.grpc.start",
+    endpoint = %addr,
+);
+```
+
+### The `message` attribute
+
+Use an attribute named **`message`** when the event name alone is not sufficient
+to convey what happened. This value is mapped to the OTel LogRecord **body**,
+making it the primary text shown in log viewers, consoles, and observability UIs.
+
+Not every event needs a `message` -- if the event name is self-explanatory,
+omit it. Avoid messages that just restate the event name; they add no value.
+
+```rust
+// Bad -- message just restates the event name:
+otel_info!("pipeline.run.start",
+    message = "Pipeline run started",
+);
+
+// Good -- event name says it all, no message needed:
+otel_info!("pipeline.run.start");
+
+// Good -- message explains consequences beyond what the event name conveys:
+otel_warn!("core_affinity.set_failed",
+    message = "Failed to set core affinity for pipeline thread. Performance may be less predictable.",
+);
+```
+
+### Attribute formatting
+
+The macros support `tracing`-style formatting hints:
+
+- `%value` -- Display formatting (`fmt::Display`)
+- `?value` -- Debug formatting (`fmt::Debug`)
+- `value` -- passed directly (integers, booleans, etc.)
+
+```rust
+otel_info!("node.connect",
+    endpoint = %addr,
+    config   = ?node_config,
+    count    = 42,
+);
+```
 
 ## Event naming
 
@@ -71,7 +147,8 @@ Where:
 - `<verb>` is the action or occurrence (e.g. `start`, `complete`, `fail`,
   `reload`, `shutdown`).
 
-Note: OpenTelemetry Events are represented as LogRecords with an event name.
+Note: OpenTelemetry Events are represented as LogRecords with an
+[event name](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/v1.50.0/specification/logs/data-model.md#field-eventname).
 In OTLP, this is carried in the LogRecord `event_name` field (not in the body).
 
 ## Attributes and context
diff --git a/rust/otap-dataflow/scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh b/rust/otap-dataflow/scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..c242b22758
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/otap-dataflow/scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Script to detect direct use of tracing/log macros instead of otel_* wrappers.
+# All events MUST be emitted using the otel_* macros from otap_df_telemetry.
+# See docs/telemetry/events-guide.md
+#
+# Usage: ./scripts/check-direct-telemetry-macros.sh
+
+set -e
+
+echo "🔍 Checking for direct use of tracing/log macros (should use otel_* macros instead)..."
+
+# Function to check for a banned pattern in .rs files
+check_banned_pattern() {
+    local pattern="$1"
+    local description="$2"
+    local files
+
+    # Find all .rs files, excluding:
+    #   - target/         build artifacts
+    #   - .git/           git internals
+    #   - crates/telemetry/  implements the otel_* wrappers (legitimate tracing usage)
+    #   - crates/quiver/     will move out of this repo (temporary exemption)
+    #   - crates/quiver-e2e/ quiver end-to-end tests (temporary exemption)
+    #   - benchmarks/        benchmarks may legitimately use tracing directly
+    files=$(find . -name "*.rs" -type f \
+        | grep -v target/ \
+        | grep -v .git/ \
+        | grep -v crates/telemetry/ \
+        | grep -v crates/quiver/ \
+        | grep -v crates/quiver-e2e/ \
+        | grep -v benchmarks/ \
+        || true)
+
+    if [ -z "$files" ]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    local matches
+    matches=$(echo "$files" | xargs grep -n "$pattern" 2>/dev/null || true)
+
+    if [ -n "$matches" ]; then
+        echo "⚠️  Found direct $description:"
+        echo "$matches"
+        echo ""
+        return 1
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
+checks_passed=0
+
+# Check for fully-qualified tracing macro calls
+if ! check_banned_pattern "tracing::info!" "tracing::info! usage (use otel_info! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "tracing::warn!" "tracing::warn! usage (use otel_warn! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "tracing::error!" "tracing::error! usage (use otel_error! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "tracing::debug!" "tracing::debug! usage (use otel_debug! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "tracing::trace!" "tracing::trace! usage (use otel_debug! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+# Check for fully-qualified log crate macro calls
+if ! check_banned_pattern "log::info!" "log::info! usage (use otel_info! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "log::warn!" "log::warn! usage (use otel_warn! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "log::error!" "log::error! usage (use otel_error! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "log::debug!" "log::debug! usage (use otel_debug! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if ! check_banned_pattern "log::trace!" "log::trace! usage (use otel_debug! instead)"; then
+    checks_passed=1
+fi
+
+if [ $checks_passed -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "✅ No direct tracing/log macro usage found!"
+    echo "ℹ️  All events use otel_* macros as required by docs/telemetry/events-guide.md."
+else
+    echo "❌ Found direct tracing/log macro usage. Use otel_* macros from otap_df_telemetry instead."
+    echo ""
+    echo "How to fix:"
+    echo "  • tracing::info!(...)  → otel_info!(\"event.name\", ...)"
+    echo "  • tracing::warn!(...)  → otel_warn!(\"event.name\", ...)"
+    echo "  • tracing::error!(...) → otel_error!(\"event.name\", ...)"
+    echo "  • tracing::debug!(...) → otel_debug!(\"event.name\", ...)"
+    echo ""
+    echo "  Import from otap_df_telemetry:"
+    echo "    use otap_df_telemetry::otel_info;"
+    echo ""
+    echo "  See docs/telemetry/events-guide.md for full details."
+    exit 1
+fi