@darius good write up! Verified links seem like a useful part of the solution but an official work instance seems stronger.

If the point of verification is to confirm that you’re an agent of your employer (eg a journo working for NYT) then it seems fine for that identity to be controlled by that employer?

If you’re a freelancer, then some kind of limited / temporary right to asset that affiliation would seem useful?

Both of these patterns have operated for long time in email.