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Anita, it's late,and my thoughts may be disjointed, but I wanted to answer
your plea.
I definitely would put a portfolio together, and you can just use a good
three ring leatherette binder with plastic (good quality) page protectors.
I print dividers for each area I've been involved in, such as editing,
wrtiing, document management, graphics etc.
I find that a portfolio helps me keep control of the interview by letting
me guide the discussion according to how my portfolio is arranged. With
your background and experience, you should have sufficient samples.
Make sure you have a good variety of work. Don't leave copies, don't leave
your portfolio. Don't just show the hiring manager your sample, but use the
page samples to discuss your work, the scope of the project, how you
organized it, how you obtained information, difficulties you had to
overcome.
I include a section on how I organize a project. I have simple icons and a
storyboard to explain the process, just to show that there's more to
writing than wordsmithing.
You may want to include a section on rates if you are a contractor, or have
a sample contract available.
I'm surprised how few of my cohorts use a portfolio, I find one very useful.
I know you'll get good response to your question. Let me know what others say.
