History Main / KnowledgeBroker

* The Daily Days, a newspaper from ''Literature/{{Baccano}}''.
* Big Ear, (because he heard about ''everything'', you know), from ''Anime/TheBigO''. You know, the one with the glasses.

* ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'': Izaya Orihara, though it's hard to tell whether he's [[OnlyInItForTheMoney doing it for the money]] or simply because [[ItAmusedMe It Amuses Him]]. Considering his intelligence and [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[ManipulativeBastard personality]], it's probably the latter with the former as a perk.
-->'''Izaya:''' It's kinda scary how much people trust me.

* Information brokers are one of the most lucrative jobs people can have in the AfterTheEnd setting of ''[[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]]''. The second episode has a broker [[TemptingFate boasting about how they're so much smarter than those idiot mobile suit pilots]]. [[KarmicDeath Then he's vaporized by the GX's Satellite Cannon]].
** Speaking of ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', ''[[Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray Gundam SEED Astray]]'' has the recurring antagonist Kenav Luchini.

* Ginko from ''Anime/{{Kurenai}}'', for the romantic subtext version. Also Shinkurou's UnluckyChildhoodFriend.

* Rufus Barma in ''Manga/PandoraHearts''.
* Nabiki Tendo of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''.
* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'':
** Carol is a downplayed example, often accepting information as part of a ProBonoBarter when [[TheOldestProfession her clients]] can't pay her fully or when she wants the info more.
** Viola has a career as this (with relic appraisal as her front). With Viola's ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, she often uses it for PlayingBothSides, as well as FlawExploitation-based gambits (usually both at the same time).
** Sheryl eventually decides to StartMyOwn as this in competition with Viola both to make herself more valuable to Akira and to be able to get rid of her.
* ''Manga/SpyXFamily'': Franky is a talented information dealer and can find almost any document. For example, he snuck into the City Hall to steal hundreds of single women's files, was able to find both a rare entrance exam application and the answers to that very test, and was on the Forgers' doorstep to celebrate Anya's admission ''[[NewsTravelsFast seconds]]'' after they learned about it themselves.
* Information Brokers in general in ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', especially Argo. Argo once sold a piece of information, then sold the information about her selling that information, then offered to sell even that information of the sale of information about the information the original buyer of the actual information. Quite the knowledgeable knowledge broker.

* Examples in the Franchise/TheDCU:
** ComicBook/{{Oracle}} started out fulfilling this role for Franchise/{{Batman}}, then moved on to also providing it for ''ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey'', then moved onto being a uniting force for ''the entire hero community.'' People both in and out of universe have mused that Oracle is one of the most invaluable heroes when it comes to fighting crime.
** The Calculator from Franchise/TheDCU was a goofy Silver Age villain with a giant pocket calculator on his chest and vague AwesomenessByAnalysis powers -- until ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis2004'' revamped him into Oracle's EvilCounterpart, a knowledge broker for supervillains. In Videogame/DCUniverseOnline, the two serve the role as MissionControl for heroes and villains respectively using their know-how.
** A similar role (information broker to the villains) was played by the Monitor during the run-up to ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. His role in the actual ''Crisis'' is quite different.
** [[DependingOnTheWriter In some instances]], Jason Todd as the [[TheUnfettered Red]] [[AntiVillain Hood]] has played this role, bringing valuable information to heroes. And, occasionally, villains. For his own ends, or to ensure they end up getting themselves killed. If it came up more often, he'd be a MagnificentBastard.
** ComicBook/ThePenguin functions as an information broker for Gotham's underworld, and sometimes to Batman, with a little arms dealing thrown in for good measure.

* The Brain in the film noir send-up ''Film/{{Brick}}'' provides Brendan with intel on the situation at the school.
* Mr. Universe for the series ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s BigDamnMovie ''Film/Serenity2005'', the self-proclaimed "eyes and ears of the 'verse."

* In ''Film/{{Heat}}'' (1995) Robert [=DeNiro's=] character consults such a figure for intelligence on potential heists and police opponents. When [=DeNiro=] asks him where he gets this stuff he replies that it just comes to him through the air (his house is festooned with antennae and located on a hill above Los Angeles).
* Skinny Pete from the 2003 remake of ''Film/{{The Italian Job|2003}}'' acts as this for Charlie and his crew when they pull their final heist in L. A.
* From the ''Film/LethalWeapon'' series, Leo Getz. "Whatever you need, Leo Gets". (Unfortunately, he tends to '''get''' [[ButtMonkey himself in trouble a lot.]])

** Neo also qualifies, before his RedPillBluePill decision in the first minutes of the original film.

* ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeIIAttackOfTheClones'': Dex, the owner and chef of Dex's Diner. Since his place is popular with merchants, smugglers, and other frequent travelers, and as he's traveled all over and done more jobs than can be counted on his four hands, he often overhears things that no one else does and is willing to sell the info. In the movie, Obi-Wan goes to him to find information on the Kamino cloning project; he identifies the reclusive race whose world is so obscure that nobody noticed it being missing from the Jedi archives from a simple metal dart.
* ''Film/WelcomeToThePunch'' (2013). A criminal seeking to put out some information on the street as TheBait visits a tattoo parlour whose owner gives him the option of releasing the information "old school" (word of mouth) or "new school" (via Facebook and Twitter).

* After refusing to back down from a touchy case and losing her position, [[spoiler: Wolfe]] from the Creator/AndrewVachss ''Burke'' books takes on this role, and is apparently the best at it.
* "Done it" Duncan of the Literature/{{Discworld}} acts unwillingly as this, as he claims to have performed every crime that happens in the city, including a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial that can be very useful to the Watch.
** Also, Fred Colon from ''Night Watch'' forward, in a strange way. After being pulled off the streets, he is given an office, where he always keeps a kettle going and a box of free doughnuts. This is a favorite hang-out for ex-cops, old cons, and petty criminals, all of whom have an ear to the street and gossip like old washerwomen. Colon hands over the information gathered to Vimes, who gladly pays for the tea and doughnuts in return.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': There is one common theme between many powerhouses in the ''Dresden''-world: Knowledge is power. The strongest know this and give their knowledge with a price, if at all.

* In ''Literature/TheIronTeeth'' web serial, the mysterious and beautiful woman Luphera aids Blacknail the hobgoblin by trading him information. She also appears to sell information, among other things.

* In Lawrence Block's ''Literature/MatthewScudder'' series, Danny Boy Bell, an albino black man, performs this role. A website providing information about the book series, [[http://pooganspub.com/ Poogan's Pub]], is named after one of the spots Bell frequents.

* ''Literature/MindstarRising'' by Creator/PeterFHamilton. Greg Mandel visits a knowledge broker and does an InterrogationByVandalism, destroying a [[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou database containing seven million personnel files]]. It's actually a vital clue that he misses; the only person who would have the opportunity to copy such a database would be a [[TheRemnant high-ranking official in the recently-deposed dictatorship]].
* Subverted in ''Quiller's Run''. Literature/{{Quiller}} hopes to get information on the BigBad from a former intelligence officer who lives in the Cambodian jungle monitoring the electronic pathways including several bugging devices. Unfortunately he's half-insane from the head injury that put him there. Quiller has to parachute in, get past several attack dogs, then talk the Knowledge Broker into not only giving him the information but not killing him during his fits of psychosis.

* The sheer scale of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' universe dictates a rather absurd number of these. By ''far'' the best, though, is smuggler-in-chief [[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Talon Karrde]], whose organization, which took over after Jabba The Hutt's enterprises collapsed with his death, was built on information brokering. He ended up [[DefaultToGood defaulting to the New Republic's side]] [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal after]] Thrawn had him kidnapped to try and coax the location of a lost fleet out of him. In the Literature/HandOfThrawn duology, he took a certain crucial bit of intelligence to Supreme Commander Pellaeon in time for a BigDamnHeroes moment, and his organization sets up between the newly at peace New Republic and Imperial Remnant, making sure information flows freely to both sides so there won't be any nasty secrets. His old mentor knows everything but withdrew from galactic affairs.
** Around second place or so are the various other important smugglers, and government agents are somewhere around twentieth. Unless they're ''Thrawn's'' agents, that is, or wherever and whatever he gets his intel from.
* ''Literature/{{Edgedancer}}'' (a novella of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''): Nigh-everyone in Yeddaw buys and sells information, as in their country, knowledge is a currency as good as -- and sometimes better than -- physical money.

* Pahvulti, the renegade [[{{Cyborg}} Tech]] [[MachineWorship Priest]] in Simon Spurrier's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/NightLords'' novel ''Lord of the Night''. He was exceptionally good at his job, becoming the information baron of a hive, due to his mentality of a cad combined with his thought processes being that of a computer.

* Mr. Universe for the series ''Series/{{Firefly}}'''s BigDamnMovie ''Film/{{Serenity}}'', the self-proclaimed "eyes and ears of the 'verse."

** The Calculator from Franchise/TheDCU was a goofy Silver Age villain with a giant pocket calculator on his chest and vague AwesomenessByAnalysis powers -- until ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' revamped him into Oracle's EvilCounterpart, a knowledge broker for supervillains. In Videogame/DCUniverseOnline, the two serve the role as MissionControl for heroes and villains respectively using their know-how.

** The first game also has a more down-market version in Tamura, a journalist who has a sideline selling information he dug up but for various reasons can't print.
** ''Yakuza: Like a Dragon'' features the Geomijul, a Korean crime syndicate that gathers intel through its extensive surveillance network in Ijincho and both sells it and uses it to keep the peace between the other criminal factions.

** The Dark Wolf does this in ''Awakening''.[[note]]Ironically, he's hired by the previous Dark Wolf, provided you do some side-quests in ''Origins''.[[/note]]

-->'''Varric:''' It means coins flow when I talk ''and'' when I shut up.

* In ''VideoGame/StarControlII'', this is the [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the Melnorme, who accept "bio-data" from you in exchange for galactic history, current events, and technological specifications. [[ProudMerchantRace They also sell starship fuel.]]
** They also refuse to take anything for free. When they met the Slylandro, who were completely willing to give up their knowledge and history for free, they couldn't accept that and figured out a way to give them something they could use. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Problem was that inadvertently cause them to get access to the Slylandro probes which]] [[AIIsACrapshoot wound up being badly programmed and]] [[GoddamnedBats attacking everything in sight.]]

* ''{{VideoGame/Yakuza}}'': This series being what it is, they appear.
** The most prominent one is the Florist of Sai, who has cameras covering most of Tokyo and works for the highest bidder. He got his name because when he was starting out, he always delivered his intel on cards attached to flower arrangements.
** The first game also has a more down-market version in Tamura, a journalist who has a sideline selling information he dug up but for various reasons can't print.
** ''Yakuza: Like a Dragon'' features the Geomijul, a Korean crime syndicate that gathers intel through its extensive surveillance network in Ijincho and both sells it and uses it to keep the peace between the other criminal factions.

* In the ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story, "The Tarnished Angel," Donnelly Ferguson uses his knowledge of the city's underworld to find jobs for the B-rate villains of Kiefer Square. [[spoiler:He arranges for all of them to be hired for a city-wide crime spree planned by fallen hero El Hombre, who plans to kill all the villains and restore his heroic stature.]] Steeljack didn't like associating with him even before all this came to light, but because Ferguson didn't have a record he was one of the very few people he knew with whom he could freely mingle without violating his parole. He never gets what's coming to him, but he's not the same man after the Conquistador incident, either.

* From the ''Film/LethalWeapon'' series, Leo Getz. [[CatchPhrase "Whatever you need, Leo Gets".]] (Unfortunately, he tends to '''get''' [[ButtMonkey himself in trouble a lot.]])

The Knowledge Broker has a web of contacts stretching into various organizations, industries, and government agencies, and always seems to know what's going on. Sometimes the Knowledge Broker seem nearly omniscient. They always seem to have just the right tidbit of information for whoever is willing to pay their price. For the most part, they remain impartial despite their vast influence, and most people know to stay on their good (or at least indifferent) side.

Many times this character is relegated to a position as a [[CharactersAsDevice Plot Device]]. However, in works with a CrapsaccharineWorld or CrapsackWorld bent, they're more likely to be either one of the main characters, or a RecurringCharacter and have backstory and get CharacterDevelopment, making them more than a PlotDevice and essential to the series.

* Sakaguchi Ango from ''Manga/BungoStrayDogs''. He is introduced as an important source of information for the mafia, and he's often doing business abroad. That's what we're told... [[spoiler: but he is actually doing this work for the Government; he plays an important role there as well]]. Then [[spoiler: Atsushi, Kyouka and Oguri escape using the latter's Ability (to erase every trace of a crime) and they're still found by Ango. That's before it is revealed that Ango has the power to [[{{Psychometry}} receive the memories of everything he touches]]]], which finally answers why he is this trope.

** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'': In ''Literature/PurpleHazeFeedback'', finding out specific information is a key skill that Cannolo Murolo's All Along Watchtower provides. The enormous range of his Stand allows Murolo to spy on anyone and anything, allowing him to easily track down the Narcotics Team and find out normally restricted information; his confidence in his knowledgeable status has lead to him growing overconfident and amoral in his place in Passione's hierarchy in the past.

* Haruo Nijima from ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' is a partial case of this. Though he has incredibly skills in analyzing enemies and information gathering in general, he acquires all his intelligence for the sole purpose of furthering his own goals of power.

** Viola has a career as this (with relic appraisal as her front). With Viola's ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, she often uses it for PlayingBothSides, as well as FlawExploitation based gambits (usually both at the same time).

* ''Manga/SpyXFamily'': Franky is a talented information dealer and can find almost any document. For examples, he snuck into the City Hall to steal hundreds of single women's files, was able to find both a rare entrance exam application and the answers to that very test, and was on the Forgers' doorstep to celebrate Anya's admission ''[[NewsTravelsFast seconds]]'' after they learned about it themselves.

** [[DependingOnTheWriter In some instances]], Jason Todd as the [[TheUnfettered Red]] [[AntiVillain Hood]] has played this role, bringing valuable information to heroes. And, occasionally, villains. For his own ends, or to ensure they end up getting themselves killed. If it came up more often he'd be a MagnificentBastard.

* Information is just another commodity in the world of ''ComicBook/{{Finder}}'', and Lynne Grosvenor is implied to be one of the best infotraders in Anvard. Within an hour of his sisters' mugging, he's recovered their belongings and tipped off the police (if not something worse, considering how [[DisproportionateRetribution protective]] he is [[BerserkButton of Marcie]]).

* The Shingouz in ''ComicBook/{{Valerian}}'' are [[PlanetOfHats an entire race of creatures]] who specialize in spying and information trade. A trio of them often push their services on Valerian and Laureline and end up getting them involved into the main plot of the ongoing issue.

** Doctor Strange is the ultimate example of this, overlapping with MisterExposition when he's feeling helpful. He knows almost everything you could possibly want to know, and has dirt on everyone. It helps that he's exceptionally stealthy, and an immensely powerful {{Seer|s}} and [[TimeMaster time-traveler]]. He also never lies, which helps with trust... or it would, if he wasn't a master TruthTwister. Plus, he dispenses information on his schedule and no one else's.
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fics of Creator/AAPessimal, Conina's Barbarian Hairdressing Salon is a hub of information exchange which stands outside the usual network of Guilds. Conina Cohensdaughter-Harebut is a Thief and barbarian heroine who fulfilled her vocation to be a Hairdresser. And everyone needs a hairdo. And ''everyone'' -- Thief, Assassin, Heroine, Watchwoman, Seamstress, Teacher -- [[ChattyHairdresser talks to their hairdresser]]. Who if she is so inclined may pass interesting information back.

* Kunsel in ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' was a well informed and vaguely gossipy Mr. Exposition. ''Fanfic/TheFifthAct'' upgrades him having a vast information network, being everyone's go to guy for information and in the Omakes, being better informed than the Turks.

** To a lesser extent, one of Wrestling/BeckyLynch's CoDragons, [[Wrestling/JessicaKresa ODB]], whose specialty is finding people who are hard-to-find.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13892510/1/A-Person-Extremely-Wanted A Person Extremely Wanted]]'' revolves around this trope. The broker is the mysterious protagonist PEW who sells information to anyone, but also trades information and payment in the background to balance out the harm caused by some of his worse clients. But what is he really after?

* ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'': Doctor Know... is in the know. And is also an unreliable search engine that charges per-question, but that's besides the point.
* The Brain in the film noir send up ''Film/{{Brick}}'' provides Brendan with intel on the situation at the school.

* ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeIIAttackOfTheClones'': Dex, the owner and chef of Dex's Diner. Since his place is popular with merchants, smugglers, and other frequent travelers, and as he's traveled all over and done more jobs than can be counted on his four hands, he often overhears things that no-one else does, and is willing to sell the info. In the movie, Obi-Wan goes to him to find information on the Kamino cloning project; he identifies the reclusive race whose world is so obscure that nobody noticed it being missing from the Jedi archives from a simple metal dart.

** Also, Fred Colon from ''Night Watch'' forward, in a strange way. After being pulled off the streets, he is given an office, where he always keeps a kettle going and a box of free doughnuts. This is a favorite hang-out for ex-cops, old cons and petty criminals, all of whom have an ear to the street and gossip like old washerwomen. Colon hands over the information gathered to Vimes, who gladly pays for the tea and doughnuts in return.

** The Fae, especially higher level Sidhe members, love being this. Any fae could have the information the mortal seeks, but the mortal must make exactly clear what information the mortal wants. Any loophole or ambiguity, and the fae can, and most will, give muddled and broken information. The fae will also ask for a payment in return of equal value to the knowledge given.
** Donnar Vadderung is the modern day mask of [[spoiler:Odin, the King of Norse Gods, and Santa Claus, Winter King and beholden to Queen Mab]]. He runs a mercenary group but is always well informed. He knows things about the hero Harry Dresden that not even Harry knew until just a days prior, namely: [[spoiler:Harry has a daughter and she was kidnapped by vampires. He also knows the vampires didn't kidnap her just for vengeance against Harry]]. Like the fae, he is willing to trade information for information, but there are two times when he asks no payment from Harry. The first is when [[spoiler:Harry came asking for help finding his daughter and saving her. Odin gives the knowledge freely, but Harry realizes later Odin, Mab, and others played him to help do serious damage to the Vampire Court that took his daughter by using his quest to their needs]]. Later on when Harry asks for more information in a different book [[spoiler:as Santa he gives Harry crucial information in outgambitting another Spymaster and his human ally, but states Harry was a good boy this past year and to consider it a belated Christmas present]].
** The Archive is the repository of all human knowledge. Anything written, typed, or printed, whether on stone, sand, paper, or computer, or other medium by other means, is instantly entered into her mind. The mantle is past from mother to daughter since Ancient Greece. She can recall anything her predecessors knew with perfect clarity too. She is ''not'' a broker of knowledge. She is neutral in all venues and the mantle of the Archive even restricts the female host from giving it, even if the person is a friend on a good cause. She is there in case of a societal collapse and lose of knowledge.

** ''Literature/{{Ringworld}}'': The Night People range widely, enter all other species' settlements as they please, and pick over all corpses of the dead. As a result, they hear and see a very great deal, and derive most of their influence from buying and selling information, news, myths and hearsay across the Ring.

* Subverted in ''Quiller's Run''. Literature/{{Quiller}} hopes to get information on the BigBad from a former intelligence officer who lives in the Cambodian jungle monitoring the electronic pathways including several bugging devices. Unfortunately he's half-insane from the head injury that put him there. Quiller has to parachute in, get past several attack dogs, then talk the Knowledge Broker into not only giving him the information, but not killing him during his fits of psychosis.

* The former CIA from ''Literature/SnowCrash'' is a knowledge-brokering company. Among other things it employs camera-laden guys who roam around recording everything, in case it'll come in handy later.

** Qyburn, a former maester, becomes Lord of Whispers under Cersei's direction and claims that the job is easier than you'd think, because there are always people who will seek you out to sell secrets.
* In ''Literature/TheSpiritThief'', the brokers are a network of people famous for being able to find anything and any piece of information (they're a bit worse with people) within an hour or so of placing a query. They charge through the roof, but given their almost-supernatural ([[spoiler:actually supernatural, as they're in league with wind spirits]]) capabilities, the main characters agree that they're worth every standard.

* The sheer scale of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' universe dictates a rather absurd number of these. By ''far'' the best, though, is smuggler-in-chief [[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Talon Karrde]], whose organization, which took over after Jabba The Hutt's enterprises collapsed with his death, was built on information brokering. He ended up [[DefaultToGood defaulting to the New Republic's side]] [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal after]] Thrawn had him kidnapped to try and coax the location of a lost fleet out of him. In the Literature/HandOfThrawn duology, he took a certain crucial bit of intelligence to Supreme Commander Pellaeon in time for a BigDamnHeroes moment, and his organization sets up between the newly at peace New Republic and Imperial Remnant, making sure information flows freely to both sides so there won't be any nasty secrets. His old mentor knows everything, but withdrew from galactic affairs.

* The villainous [[FatBastard Dale "the Whale" Biederbeck]] of ''Series/{{Monk}}'' is one of these (it helps that he's also [[Fiction500 insanely rich]]). In his debut episode, it's revealed that he has dirt on everyone from politicians to professional baseball coaches, and can make them obey him with a single phone call; later, he somehow manages to learn about some shameful parts of Sharona's past within a day or two of her meeting him. In a later episode, he forms an EnemyMine pact with Monk by offering information on Trudy's death that even the cops never discovered in exchange for Monk's clearing him of a murder. What makes this particularly impressive is that Dale weighs in at 800 pounds, and thus runs his information empire from a specially-made bed.

** Hetty Lange, who's firmly on the side of the good guys -- she seems to have limitless knowledge of ''everything'' that goes on not just in her unit, but pretty much all over the planet. Hetty has a massive database of contacts and connections from her days in the Cold War, and is fluent in at least eleven languages. She even lampshades the role in one episode when she's accused of being TheChessmaster; Hetty demurs and explains that she doesn't see individual pieces -- she sees, and moves, the ''whole board.''

** In ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'', Garak, Odo and Quark all play this role. Garak's comes from the intelligence world and he has connections everywhere and in every facet of society. Odo's tend to be police, security and politically based and Quark's tend to be economic and black market.

* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'': The entire Nosferatu clan serve this function. Their monstrous appearance forces them to stay in the shadows, making information and intrigue come naturally to them. Their supernatural stealth and propensity for animal spies doesn't hurt, either.

* Everyone you talk to in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''. Seriously, how does Joe Shmoe know which warehouse the Trolls are selling firearms out of? Granted, many of your contacts have some relation to law enforcement or the criminal underworld, but it gets quite silly after a while. It becomes ''ridiculously'' literal in Praetoria, where the game's primary currency is labelled ''Information''. This hat will cost 30 informations sir.

** The Shadow Broker, the completely unknown head of a vast Information Brokering Empire. Even the highest ranking members of the organization communicate with their boss only through audio-only communications channels, in which the Shadow Broker uses a computer generated voice.
** The Illusive Man at the head of Cerberus is also in the same business, but he doesn't use it for profit but to always be ahead of his enemies and to use the information he has as bribes or for blackmail. He doesn't sell information, but only shares it to make other people depend on him.
** In the second game, Liara starts her own business on Illium, but for her the profits are mostly to fund her own investigations into the identity and location of the Shadow Broker, who tried to find the dead body of Shepard and sell it to the Collectors and kidnapped her partner when she gave the body to Cerberus first. Her real goal is to kill the Shadow Broker and rescue Feron. [[TookALevelInBadass Not bad for the socially awkward archaeologist from the first game.]]
** The ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC takes Liara and Shepard to the secret base of the same. [[spoiler:Where it turns out that the current person behind the desk is a yahg, a huge gorilla-like alien who was kept as a slave and pet by the last Shadow Broker. After he killed his master in his own private chambers, he simply sat down at his computer and continued business as usual. And after he is killed in battle and the computers restart, Liara does the very same thing, instantly becoming one of top ten most powerful people in the entire galaxy.]]

* In ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'', Info-chan. She's technically a student at Akademi High School, but she spends all her time in the locked Info Club room, and can only be contacted electronically. She knows a lot about everyone at school; she got her position and privileges by blackmailing the school's headmaster, and she has enough dirt to destroy the reputation of most of the school's students. She also doubles as a black market dealer, as she can get helpful items like cigarettes, fake [=IDs=], and poison for the right price. The price is measured in {{panty shot}}s (or, later on, gossip from planted bugs), which she accepts because some students will pay her for them. In game, she acts as a MysteriousBacker to Yan-chan, knowing her true nature and intentions but not caring as long as it gets her business. She'll give out general information on the students for free; more direct aid will require payment.

* ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'': Cappuccino runs a cafe where patrons preferably pay their bills in information, if they can't pay [[WorkingOffTheDebt they wash dishes]]. She'll also trade the information she has for new info [[spoiler:or for help fighting off warlords with delusions of empire.]]

* ''JediKnightDarkForcesII'': 8t88, a ruthless and unscrupulous information broker (supplemental material reveals he used to be an administrative droid when he came online 190 years before the Battle of Yavin) for hire, whom Kyle turns to in order to find out who killed his father, Morgan Katarn. Unfortunately, 8t88 had already agreed to work for said killer, the Dark Jedi Jerec, and chose to have Kyle killed at their meeting instead.

* Wiseman from the ''VideoGame/DotHackR1Games'' had this as his initial occupation, before joining the team for real.

* The Harlot functions as this in ''ComicBook/FallOfCthulhu.'' As one of the most powerful entities in the DreamLand, she can provide virtually any form of information; her asking price is generally a piece of the client's body, [[spoiler: though she will occasionally accept pieces of the client's mind -- especially in the case of Raymond Dirk.]]

* In ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8271684/1/Next-On Next On,]]'' [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Gakupo]] is one.
* Kunsel in ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' was a well informed and vaguely gossipy Mr. Exposition. ''Fanfic/TheFifthAct'' upgrades him having a vast information network, being everyone's go to guy for information and in the Omakes, being better informed than the Turks.
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fics of Creator/AAPessimal, Conina's Barbarian Hairdressing Salon is a hub of information exchange which stands outside the usual network of Guilds. Conina Cohensdaughter-Harebut is a Thief and barbarian heroine who fulfilled her vocation to be a Hairdresser. And everyone needs a hairdo. And ''everyone'' -- Thief, Assassin, Heroine, Watchwoman, Seamstress, Teacher -- [[ChattyHairdresser talks to their hairdresser]]. Who if she is so inclined may pass interesting information back.
* ''Fanfic/GuardiansWizardsAndKungFuFighters'' has Charles Ludmoore, who seems to know just about everything happening on both Earth and Meridian, and is willing to supply that information (as well as access to his vast black market resources) to anyone willing to pay the price. Somewhat different from most examples, in that he and his brothers are actively PlayingBothSides of the war on Meridian for the benefit of a much larger agenda.
* The ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'' series has Ovard Grim. Publicly, he's just the head of a scrap metal reclamation company. In reality, however, he runs numerous other businesses of varying levels of legality, one of which is trading information. In both the fourth and fifth editions, he sells information to heroes and villains alike, always putting his own interests first.

* In ''Fanfic/WhenReasonFails'', Hagakure Tooru is a student Candidate who is not part of a Cabal who keeps herself afloat by using her invisibility magic to spy on people and sell the information to other people. [[spoiler: Shoto goes to her at the end of Chapter 35 with a bargain.]]

* Ginko from ''LightNovel/{{Kurenai}}'', for the romantic subtext version. Also Shinkurou's UnluckyChildhoodFriend.

* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'': The Curator Enclave sells information on uncharted stars, intel on certain [[BonusBoss Leviathans]], access to their database which significantly boosts your research, and can assign one of their peerless scientists to work for you. All for a nominal sum of credits.

* The Outsiders from Larry Niven's ''Literature/KnownSpace'' stories. Unusually, they don't care about getting the dirt on anybody; their business is in [[{{Precursors}} Slaver-era]] technical knowledge (they sold humans the hyperdrive, giving them a fighting chance in the Man-Kzin Wars) and treasure maps. It's almost impossible to acquire knowledge in these fields that you can sell ''them'', but if you can do it you'll pretty much be set for life.
-->''It was well known that the reactionless drive the Outsiders used was for sale, and that the price was a full trillion stars. Though no individual, and no nation now extant, could afford such a sum, the price was not exorbitant.''

* "Papa" Friedlander Bey from the ''[[Literature/MaridAudran Marîd Audran series]]'' deals exclusively in information on a global scale; governments operate, or not, based on the information bought, sold, and traded by him.

** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'': In ''LightNovel/PurpleHazeFeedback'', finding out specific information is a key skill that Cannolo Murolo's All Along Watchtower provides. The enormous range of his Stand allows Murolo to spy on anyone and anything, allowing him to easily track down the Narcotics Team and find out normally restricted information; his confidence in his knowledgeable status has lead to him growing overconfident and amoral in his place in Passione's hierarchy in the past.

* The Daily Days, a newspaper from ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}''

* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': Izaya Orihara, though it's hard to tell whether he's [[OnlyInItForTheMoney doing it for the money]] or simply because [[ItAmusedMe It Amuses Him]]. Considering his intelligence and [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[ManipulativeBastard personality]], it's probably the latter with the former as a perk.

* Ginko from ''LightNovel/KureNai'', for the romantic subtext version. Also Shinkurou's UnluckyChildhoodFriend.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'':

* Information Brokers in general in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', especially Argo. Argo once sold a piece of information, then sold the information about her selling that information, then offered to sell even that information of the sale of information about the information the original buyer of the actual information. Quite the knowledgeable knowledge broker.

* Big Ear, (because he heard about ''everything'', you know), from ''Anime/TheBigO''. You know, the one with the glasses...

* [[{{Meganekko}} Becky]] [[MiserAdvisor Farrah]] from ''Manga/GunsmithCats''.
* ''Anime/GunXSword'' has [=Carmen99=].
* [[spoiler: Madeleine]] in the manga of ''Manga/HonooNoAlpenRose''.

* ASCII in ''VideoGame/BurnCycle'', a mysterious entity that resides in the [[{{Cyberspace}} Televerse]] and speaks in rapid MachineMonotone, with kiosks in the real world offering their location in exchange for [[WeWillUseCreditsInTheFuture credits]]. They become Sol Cutter's main source of intel for most of the game, sometimes giving out software to help Cutter.

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Redd White from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney''. His company, Bluecorp, was an information-gathering corporation that specialized in obtaining blackmail material concerning big-name individuals such as celebrities, politicians as well as high-ranked people on the judicial system, effectively making White [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections a man above the law]].
[[/folder]]

* Varric does this when not writing or adventuring in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. This is all done in place of what should in theory be his actual job, namely running a business, which is in fact registered to a totally fictitious cousin.